Forgery in St. Lucie County, Florida
51 cases (2025) · St. Lucie County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, forgery defendants in St. Lucie County faced substantially harsher prosecution than peers: 74.5% convicted versus 33–35% in more lenient counties. Withheld adjudication occurred in only 17.6% versus statewide 22.8%, and diversion was minimal at 2.0%. The dismissal rate matched statewide, but outcomes skewed heavily toward conviction.
Sentences averaged 501 days with a 365-day median. Confinement was substantial: 25.5% to prison and 37.3% to jail—62.8% total, the highest for forgery statewide. Average probation ran 785 days. Public defenders represented 54.9%. The conviction and confinement rates indicate this judicial circuit prioritizes incarceration for forgery far more than neighbors.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Forgery charge in St. Lucie County makes it in front of a judge. Of 135 prosecutor decisions on Forgery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 23.7% — in line with 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 — 74.5% of 51 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 51 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 | 36 | 5.4 months |
| State Prison Facility | 19 | 2.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Forgery sentencing in St. Lucie County.
Counsel Analysis (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 | 34 | 50.0% | 2.9% |
| Black | 33 | 60.6% | 3.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18 | 38.9% | 0.0% | 7.5 months |
| 2024 | 30 | 43.3% | 3.3% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 51 | 74.5% | 2.0% | 1 year, 4 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 89 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 7 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 2 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in St. Lucie County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,426 | 69.4% | 10.0% |
| Traffic Offense | 761 | 80.3% | 0.4% |
| Battery | 589 | 53.7% | 11.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 619 | 76.1% | 3.2% |
| DUI | 584 | 99.3% | 0.0% |
| Other | 574 | 81.7% | 4.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 383 | 76.2% | 7.3% |
| Fraud | 330 | 70.0% | 4.8% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Forgery in St. Lucie County?
The guilty rate is 74.5% based on 51 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Forgery in St. Lucie County?
Adjudication is withheld in 17.6% 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 Forgery in St. Lucie County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 4 months, with an average fine of $210 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
54.9% of defendants use a public defender, while 17.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Forgery in St. Lucie County, Florida (2025). Based on 51 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/forgery/st-lucie
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for St. Lucie 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 · 51 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com