DUI in Wakulla County, Florida
36 cases (2025) · Wakulla County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Wakulla County resolved 36 DUI cases with outcomes friendlier than Santa Rosa or St. Lucie, though still restrictive. The guilty rate of 86.1% remains high, but Wakulla produced dismissals in 2.8% of cases—double the statewide average of 1.4%—and acquittals in another 2.8%. The county offered no withheld adjudications or diversions. The modest sample size limits confidence in county patterns, but the dismissal rate suggests prosecutors may be screening cases more carefully or evidence issues are more common.
Defendants convicted received sentences averaging 67 days—the lightest among comparison counties—but 63.9% faced jail time. Probation averaged 432 days. Public defenders represented 47.2% of defendants versus private counsel at 16.7%, with 36.1% self-represented. The pattern suggests less aggressive prosecution than peers, despite high jail penetration.
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. A portion of DUI cases in Wakulla County receive adjudication withheld or diversion.
Typical resolution time for DUI cases in Wakulla County.
Source: Florida Statutes & DHSMV administrative rules — general process overview, not legal advice.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every DUI charge in Wakulla County makes it in front of a judge. Of 138 prosecutor decisions on DUI charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 5.8% — below 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 — 86.1% of 36 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 36 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 | 60 | 1.9 months |
| State Prison Facility | 1 | 1 year, 6 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: DUI sentencing in Wakulla County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 | 31 | 90.3% | 3.2% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 25 | 96.0% | 0.0% | 2.6 months |
| 2024 | 55 | 94.5% | 5.5% | 2.0 months |
| 2025 | 36 | 86.1% | 2.8% | 2.2 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 79 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 32 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 4 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Wakulla County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 235 | 69.4% | 6.4% |
| Drug Possession | 186 | 74.2% | 1.1% |
| Larceny / Theft | 133 | 72.2% | 3.0% |
| Other | 74 | 77.0% | 4.1% |
| Battery | 64 | 54.7% | 14.1% |
| Resisting Officer | 48 | 66.7% | 4.2% |
| Sex Offense | 76 (2023-2025) | 80.3% | 9.2% |
| Trespassing | 72 (2023-2025) | 66.7% | 6.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for DUI in Wakulla County?
The guilty rate is 86.1% based on 36 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for DUI in Wakulla County?
Adjudication is withheld in 0.0% 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 Wakulla County?
The average sentence is 2.2 months, with an average fine of $1,278 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
47.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 16.7% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). DUI in Wakulla County, Florida (2025). Based on 36 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/dui/wakulla
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Wakulla 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 · 36 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com