Drug Trafficking in Duval County, Florida
171 cases (2025) · Duval County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Duval County prosecuted 171 drug trafficking cases, achieving a 97.1 percent conviction rate. The county saw 2.3 percent acquittals—the only jurisdiction with acquittal outcomes in this data—yet still fell short of the statewide dismissal rate of 2.6 percent. Diversion was unavailable; withheld adjudication occurred in less than 1 percent of cases.
Defendants received average sentences of approximately 7.1 years with a median of 5 years. About 90 percent received prison sentences. Average fines exceeded $74,600. The private counsel rate of 62.6 percent stood notably higher than other jurisdictions, suggesting Duval's trafficking defendants included a significant proportion with resources to hire counsel.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Trafficking charge in Duval County makes it in front of a judge. Of 548 prosecutor decisions on Drug Trafficking charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 48.2% — above the 35.0% 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 97.1% of 171 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 171 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 565 | 7.4 years |
| County Jail | 13 | 5.8 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Trafficking sentencing in Duval County.
Counsel Analysis (2025)
Demographics (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 105 | 96.2% | 0.0% |
| White | 64 | 98.4% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 185 | 97.3% | 0.0% | 7.7 years |
| 2024 | 247 | 99.2% | 0.0% | 7.1 years |
| 2025 | 171 | 97.1% | 0.0% | 7.1 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | First Degree | 549 |
| Felony | Life | 23 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 19 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 12 |
Related Charges in Duval County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,130 | 36.9% | 3.3% |
| Drug Possession | 4,899 | 73.9% | 0.1% |
| Other | 4,405 | 22.2% | 0.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,441 | 68.9% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 1,878 | 65.2% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,076 | 81.3% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 1,795 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| DUI | 1,415 | 98.1% | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Trafficking in Duval County?
The guilty rate is 97.1% based on 171 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Trafficking in Duval County?
Adjudication is withheld in 0.6% of cases (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 Trafficking in Duval County?
The average sentence is 7.1 years, with an average fine of $74,643 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
37.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 62.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Trafficking in Duval County, Florida (2025). Based on 171 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-trafficking/duval
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Duval 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 · 171 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com