DUI in Monroe County, Florida
291 cases (2025) · Monroe County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Monroe County DUI outcomes reflected unique patterns among Florida jurisdictions. Though 89.7 percent resulted in guilty verdicts, 7.2 percent received adjudication withheld—five times the statewide average of 1.5 percent. The dismissal rate of 1.7 percent slightly exceeded Florida's statewide average of 1.4 percent. This balance of mercy and enforcement characterized the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit's approach.
Sentences averaged 173 days with a median of 30 days, reflecting variable outcomes. Jail confinement affected 27.1 percent while 2.4 percent received prison sentences. Probation averaged 382 days. Notably, 70.8 percent of defendants retained private counsel—the highest private attorney rate reviewed—suggesting affluent defendants or tourist-related charges.
Where You Are in the Process
Exhibit · DUI case process
Request a formal review hearing with the DMV (DHSMV) to challenge your license suspension. Missing this deadline means an automatic suspension.
Arraignment. Charges are formally presented. Pre-trial diversion may be offered.
Pre-trial period. Your attorney negotiates with the State Attorney's office. 7.9% of DUI cases in Monroe County receive adjudication withheld or diversion.
Typical resolution time for DUI cases in Monroe County.
Source: Florida Statutes & DHSMV administrative rules — general process overview, not legal advice.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every DUI charge in Monroe County makes it in front of a judge. Of 317 prosecutor decisions on DUI charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 22.7% — above the 15.3% 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 — 89.7% of 291 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 291 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 |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 246 | 2.2 months |
| State Prison Facility | 8 | 3.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: DUI sentencing in Monroe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 245 | 88.2% | 2.0% |
| Black | 26 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 294 | 90.1% | 2.0% | 2.2 months |
| 2024 | 271 | 86.7% | 3.0% | 2.7 months |
| 2025 | 291 | 89.7% | 1.7% | 5.7 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 539 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 289 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 28 |
Related Charges in Monroe County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 985 | 37.0% | 0.3% |
| Other | 730 | 54.0% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 551 | 52.5% | 1.3% |
| Trespassing | 311 | 89.1% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 272 | 63.6% | 0.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 240 | 80.0% | 1.2% |
| Battery | 223 | 52.0% | 0.4% |
| Fraud | 138 | 65.2% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for DUI in Monroe County?
The guilty rate is 89.7% based on 291 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for DUI in Monroe County?
Adjudication is withheld in 7.2% 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 DUI in Monroe County?
The average sentence is 5.7 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
25.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 70.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). DUI in Monroe County, Florida (2025). Based on 291 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/dui/monroe
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Monroe 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 · 291 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com