Stalking in Alachua County, Florida

Stalking prosecutions in Alachua County result in conviction at notably higher rates than the state average. A guilty verdict occurs in 63.8 percent of cases, while adjudication is withheld in 21.9 percent—slightly exceeding the statewide withheld rate of 20.9 percent. Combined, these outcomes mean nearly 86 percent of stalking cases end without acquittal or dismissal. The county's dismissal rate of 3.8 percent runs slightly above the statewide average of 3.0 percent, suggesting prosecutors maintain a strong case screening process. Diversion programs, which allow defendants to avoid conviction through program completion, are used in only 5.7 percent of cases compared to 7.1 percent statewide, indicating Alachua County pursues traditional prosecution more often than diversionary alternatives.

Confinement follows conviction in roughly 44 percent of stalking cases, split between jail (23.8 percent) and prison (20 percent) sentences. When incarceration occurs, median duration is 364 days, though sentences averaging 563 days suggest some cases involve substantially longer terms. Probation is imposed in most cases at an average of 554 days. Public defenders handle nearly half of stalking charges (46.7 percent), compared to private attorneys in 18.1 percent, reflecting the economic barriers defendants in these cases face.