Weapons Offense in Alachua County, Florida
144 cases (2025) · Alachua County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Alachua County handled 144 weapons offense cases with guilty verdicts in 91% and no dismissals, compared to a statewide dismissal rate of 1.5%, reflecting aggressive prosecution. Adjudication was withheld in 6.9%, below the statewide average of 9.4%, indicating limited use of conviction-avoidance outcomes. Diversion was offered in only 0.7% of cases, far below the statewide average of 2.8%, showing minimal reliance on rehabilitative alternatives.
Alachua imposed the harshest sentences for weapons offenses statewide: average 1,791.9 days (nearly five years) with a median of 1,096 days. Prison was imposed on 70.1% of convicted defendants, the highest rate among weapons cases. Probation averaged 1,007.3 days, with fines averaging $934.39. Only 30.6% were represented by public defenders, suggesting many used private counsel or were unrepresented.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Weapons Offense charge in Alachua County makes it in front of a judge. Of 555 prosecutor decisions on Weapons Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 17.5% — below the 34.6% 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 — 91.0% of 144 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 144 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 | 299 | 5.1 years |
| County Jail | 90 | 6.9 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Weapons Offense sentencing in Alachua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 117 | 89.7% | 0.0% |
| White | 26 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 173 | 86.7% | 0.0% | 3.4 years |
| 2024 | 160 | 86.9% | 0.6% | 4.0 years |
| 2025 | 144 | 91.0% | 0.0% | 4.9 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 364 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 71 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 33 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 9 |
Related Charges in Alachua County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 863 | 68.7% | 0.0% |
| Drug Possession | 863 | 81.3% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 736 | 81.7% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 620 | 63.7% | 0.8% |
| Other | 434 | 71.4% | 1.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 422 | 75.6% | 0.2% |
| Trespassing | 325 | 88.6% | 0.6% |
| Probation Violation | 289 | 94.8% | 3.8% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Weapons Offense in Alachua County?
The guilty rate is 91.0% based on 144 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Weapons Offense in Alachua County?
Adjudication is withheld in 6.9% 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 Weapons Offense in Alachua County?
The average sentence is 4.9 years, with an average fine of $934 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
30.6% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Weapons Offense in Alachua County, Florida (2025). Based on 144 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/weapons-offense/alachua
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Alachua 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 · 144 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com