Hit and Run in St. Johns County, Florida

Hit and run cases in St. Johns County result in conviction or adjudication withheld in nearly 77 percent of cases, significantly above the statewide pattern. The county's dismissal rate of 4.7 percent is nearly triple the statewide average of 1.8 percent, suggesting more cases reach resolution rather than being weeded out early. The withheld adjudication rate of 34.7 percent aligns closely with the statewide average, meaning roughly one-third of defendants avoid a formal conviction record despite judicial findings of guilt. Notably, diversion programs appear in St. Johns County at a rate of 19.1 percent—more than double the statewide average of 8.2 percent—indicating the State Attorney's office pursues pre-trial diversion as a meaningful alternative to conviction for a substantial portion of defendants.

Sentences reflect the range of case severity. While the median sentence is just 30 days, the average stretches to 208.5 days, signaling that some defendants receive much longer terms. Prison confinement is rare at 1.6 percent, but jail time affects 16.9 percent of sentenced defendants. Probation is common, averaging 359 days. Fines average $463.83. About 43 percent of defendants are represented by private counsel or public defenders, with public defenders appearing in roughly a quarter of cases.