Weapons Offense in Washington County, Florida
58 cases (2023-2025) · Washington County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Washington County pursues weapons convictions aggressively with an 87.9 percent guilty rate and zero diversion opportunities—well below the statewide 3.3 percent diversion average. Adjudication is withheld in 10.3 percent, matching statewide norms, while dismissals occur in only 1.7 percent. This small county's prosecutorial strategy minimizes alternative pathways, instead favoring conviction-based prosecution of weapons offenses.
Sentences average 1,110 days with a median of 548 days, reflecting wide variation in punishment severity. Prison confinement affects 36.2 percent and jail 27.6 percent—totaling over 63 percent incarcerated. Fines average $791.07, among the highest statewide. Public defenders handle 34.5 percent of cases against 3.4 percent private counsel, indicating limited economic diversity in the defendant population.
Figures cover 58 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Weapons Offense charge in Washington County makes it in front of a judge. Of 58 prosecutor decisions on Weapons Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 20.7% — 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 87.9% of 58 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 58 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 21 | 4.8 years |
| County Jail | 16 | 8.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Weapons Offense sentencing in Washington County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 | 41 | 87.8% | 2.4% |
| Black | 15 | 86.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 3.6 years |
| 2024 | 22 | 77.3% | 0.0% | 2.0 years |
| 2025 | 16 | 87.5% | 6.2% | 3.7 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 48 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 6 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 3 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Washington County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 231 | 78.8% | 0.0% |
| Traffic Offense | 136 | 55.9% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 84 | 78.6% | 1.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 259 (2023-2025) | 59.1% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 64 | 76.6% | 0.0% |
| Other | 67 | 71.6% | 1.5% |
| Trespassing | 31 | 83.9% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 92 (2023-2025) | 91.3% | 3.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Weapons Offense in Washington County?
The guilty rate is 87.9% based on 58 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Weapons Offense in Washington County?
Adjudication is withheld in 10.3% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Washington County?
The average sentence is 3.0 years, with an average fine of $791 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
34.5% of defendants use a public defender, while 3.4% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Weapons Offense in Washington County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 58 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/weapons-offense/washington
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Washington 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 · 58 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com