Stalking in Bay County, Florida
49 cases (2025) · Bay County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, stalking cases in Bay County were resolved with relative leniency: 69.4 percent resulted in guilty findings, but 14.3 percent were resolved through diversion programs—more than double the statewide average of 6.3 percent. Withheld adjudications occurred in only 6.1 percent of cases, well below the statewide rate of 21.2 percent, while dismissals accounted for 2.0 percent. Bay County's State Attorney appears to favor diversion as an alternative to conviction for stalking charges.
Sentences were light, averaging 122 days (about four months) with a median of 65 days. Only 4.1 percent received prison time, while 28.6 percent received jail sentences. Public defenders represented 38.8 percent of defendants.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Stalking charge in Bay County makes it in front of a judge. Of 123 prosecutor decisions on Stalking charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 18.7% — below the 41.8% 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 — 69.4% of 49 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 49 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 | 2.6 months |
| State Prison Facility | 13 | 2.8 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Stalking sentencing in Bay 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 | 37 | 70.3% | 2.7% |
| Black | 10 | 60.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 56 | 66.1% | 0.0% | 8.5 months |
| 2024 | 52 | 73.1% | 5.8% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 49 | 69.4% | 2.0% | 4.1 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 121 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 36 |
Related Charges in Bay County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 2,900 | 65.9% | 1.2% |
| Traffic Offense | 2,095 | 55.2% | 0.9% |
| Other | 1,372 | 41.3% | 2.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,109 | 66.4% | 1.1% |
| Battery | 1,044 | 64.5% | 1.9% |
| DUI | 622 | 98.1% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 624 | 66.7% | 1.9% |
| Fraud | 327 | 64.8% | 0.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Stalking in Bay County?
The guilty rate is 69.4% based on 49 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Stalking in Bay County?
Adjudication is withheld in 6.1% 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 Stalking in Bay County?
The average sentence is 4.1 months, with an average fine of $493 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
38.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 6.1% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Stalking in Bay County, Florida (2025). Based on 49 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/stalking/bay
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Bay 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 · 49 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com