Stalking in St. Johns County, Florida

Stalking cases in St. Johns County result in conviction at notably high rates. The guilty verdict rate of 72.7 percent substantially exceeds the statewide average, while the withheld adjudication rate of 12.1 percent falls well below Florida's 20.9 percent average. Only 3 percent of cases are dismissed—matching the statewide rate—and acquittals are rare at 3 percent. Diversion programs, which allow defendants to avoid conviction through program completion, were used in 9.1 percent of cases, slightly above the statewide 7.1 percent rate. These outcomes suggest St. Johns County pursues stalking charges aggressively and secures convictions at above-average rates.

Sentences reflect the seriousness with which the county treats this charge. The median sentence of 364 days in local confinement contrasts with a notably higher average of 690 days, indicating some cases result in substantially longer terms. Over half of defendants faced confinement—24.2 percent to prison and 27.3 percent to jail. Most defendants (63.6 percent) were represented by public defenders, while 18.2 percent retained private counsel. Probation averaged 776 days, and fines averaged $775, showing sentences typically combine multiple penalties beyond incarceration.