Drug Sale in Washington County, Florida
55 cases (2023-2025) · Washington County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Drug sale cases in Washington County result in conviction at notably high rates: 72.7 percent of defendants are found guilty, while 27.3 percent receive adjudication withheld. This contrasts sharply with statewide patterns, where withheld adjudications occur in only 8.5 percent of drug sale cases and dismissals account for 1.7 percent. Washington County shows zero dismissals and zero diversions, suggesting the local State Attorney's office pursues drug sale charges aggressively without offering pre-trial program alternatives that are available in other Florida circuits.
When cases do reach resolution in Washington County, sentences are substantial. The median prison sentence runs 1,096 days, with average probation extending 1,599 days. About 23.6 percent of drug sale defendants are sent to prison and another 14.5 percent to jail. Public defenders represent nearly one-third of defendants, while only 14.5 percent have private counsel, indicating that most charged lack resources for private representation. Fines average $666, adding financial consequences to incarceration and probation.
Figures cover 55 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Sale charge in Washington County makes it in front of a judge. Of 89 prosecutor decisions on Drug Sale charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 11.2% — below the 35.8% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 72.7% of 55 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 55 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 13 | 5.5 years |
| County Jail | 8 | 7.2 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Sale sentencing in Washington County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 42 | 69.0% | 0.0% |
| Black | 13 | 84.6% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 | 93.3% | 0.0% | 1 year, 11 months |
| 2024 | 17 | 76.5% | 0.0% | 5.0 years |
| 2025 | 23 | 56.5% | 0.0% | 3.0 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 41 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 9 |
| Felony | First Degree | 5 |
Related Charges in Washington County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 231 | 78.8% | 0.0% |
| Traffic Offense | 136 | 55.9% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 84 | 78.6% | 1.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 259 (2023-2025) | 59.1% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 64 | 76.6% | 0.0% |
| Other | 67 | 71.6% | 1.5% |
| Trespassing | 31 | 83.9% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 92 (2023-2025) | 91.3% | 3.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Sale in Washington County?
The guilty rate is 72.7% based on 55 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Sale in Washington County?
Adjudication is withheld in 27.3% of cases (2023-2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Drug Sale in Washington County?
The average sentence is 3.6 years, with an average fine of $694 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
38.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 14.5% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Sale in Washington County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 55 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-sale/washington
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Washington County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 55 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com