Sex Offense in Duval County, Florida
255 cases (2025) · Duval County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Duval County handled 255 sex offense cases with outcomes reflecting diverse prosecution paths. Guilty verdicts occurred in 80.4% of cases, while withheld adjudications accounted for 14.1%—far above the statewide 4.2%—allowing many convicted offenders to avoid formal conviction records. Diversion programs resolved 3.5% of cases, exceeding the statewide 1.4%, and 1.6% were dismissed.
Sentences ranged widely. The median term of 90 days reflected lighter cases, while the average of 8,328 days (23 years) captured severe sentences including probable life terms. Jail confinement was most common at 50.2%, exceeding prison at 33.7%. Representation was relatively balanced between public defenders (37.6%) and private attorneys (36.1%).
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Sex Offense charge in Duval County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,069 prosecutor decisions on Sex Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 54.2% — above the 26.5% 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 — 80.4% of 255 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 255 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 374 | 20.1 years |
| County Jail | 340 | 2.0 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Sex Offense sentencing in Duval 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 | 136 | 82.4% | 2.9% |
| Black | 97 | 78.4% | 0.0% |
| Asian | 22 | 77.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 405 | 78.8% | 0.0% | 4.1 years |
| 2024 | 276 | 89.5% | 0.4% | 7.3 years |
| 2025 | 255 | 80.4% | 1.6% | 22.8 years |
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 | 320 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 319 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 90 |
| Felony | First Degree | 85 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 74 |
| Felony | Life | 39 |
| Felony | Capital | 9 |
Related Charges in Duval County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 7,130 | 36.9% | 3.3% |
| Drug Possession | 4,899 | 73.9% | 0.1% |
| Other | 4,405 | 22.2% | 0.6% |
| Larceny / Theft | 3,441 | 68.9% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 1,878 | 65.2% | 0.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 2,076 | 81.3% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 1,795 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| DUI | 1,415 | 98.1% | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Sex Offense in Duval County?
The guilty rate is 80.4% based on 255 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Sex Offense in Duval County?
Adjudication is withheld in 14.1% 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 Sex Offense in Duval County?
The average sentence is 22.8 years, with an average fine of $2,252 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
37.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 36.1% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Sex Offense in Duval County, Florida (2025). Based on 255 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/sex-offense/duval
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Duval 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 · 255 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com