Forgery in Sarasota County, Florida
57 cases (2025) · Sarasota County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, forgery charges in Sarasota County resulted in 94.7% conviction (guilty or withheld adjudication), with zero dismissals, below Florida's statewide dismissal rate of 2.0%. Notably, adjudication was withheld in 33.3% of convictions, the highest rate among all forgery counties shown, significantly exceeding the statewide average of 22.8%. This suggests Sarasota's courts frequently impose guilt-without-conviction outcomes that avoid formal records.
Sentences averaged 415 days with a median of 364 days, indicating relatively consistent sentencing. Nearly 39% of defendants received jail time, the highest jail rate among forgery cases shown. Prison was imposed in 7.0% of cases. Probation averaged about 28 months, and fines averaged $660.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Forgery charge in Sarasota County makes it in front of a judge. Of 109 prosecutor decisions on Forgery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 3.7% — below the 25.0% 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 — 61.4% of 57 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 57 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 | 51 | 6.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 26 | 2.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Forgery sentencing in Sarasota County.
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 | 39 | 69.2% | 0.0% |
| White | 18 | 44.4% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 62 | 41.9% | 1.6% | 1 year, 5 months |
| 2024 | 48 | 77.1% | 4.2% | 1 year, 3 months |
| 2025 | 57 | 61.4% | 0.0% | 1 year, 2 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 136 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 29 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 1 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Sarasota County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 3,328 | 50.1% | 2.8% |
| Drug Possession | 2,404 | 75.9% | 1.2% |
| Other | 1,063 | 77.6% | 2.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,028 | 64.1% | 2.5% |
| DUI | 711 | 96.6% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 685 | 57.7% | 0.9% |
| Sex Offense | 561 | 78.3% | 0.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 594 | 74.1% | 1.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Forgery in Sarasota County?
The guilty rate is 61.4% based on 57 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Forgery in Sarasota County?
Adjudication is withheld in 33.3% 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 Forgery in Sarasota County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 2 months, with an average fine of $660 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Forgery in Sarasota County, Florida (2025). Based on 57 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/forgery/sarasota
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sarasota 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 · 57 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com