Drug Possession in Lee County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
515 cases compared (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In Lee County, we compared 342 Drug Possession cases with public defenders against 173 cases with private attorneys (2025). Both counsel types had similar dismissal rates.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Lee County (2025)
GapDismissal rates are effectively identical across counsel types in Lee County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 515 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 342 | 173 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 80.7% | 75.7% |
| Guilty Rate | 67.0% | 67.1% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 13.7% | 8.7% |
| Diversion Rate | 13.7% | 24.3% |
| Avg Sentence | 9.6 months | 1 year, 11 months |
| Avg Fine | $0 | $0 |
| Avg Probation | 1 year, 9 months | 2.2 years |
Important context: Correlation is not causation. Private attorney clients may differ from public defender clients in income, prior criminal history, charge severity, and willingness to go to trial. These factors independently affect outcomes. This data is informational and does not constitute legal advice.
Statewide Comparison (2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Drug Possession is 1.0% with public defenders and 1.3% with private attorneys (0.3 point difference). Lee County's 0.0 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.0% | 1.3% | +0.3 pts |
Other Charges in Lee County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resisting Officer | 338 | 0.0% | 154 | 0.0% |
| Battery | 240 | 0.4% | 156 | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 285 | 0.7% | 84 | 0.0% |
| Traffic Offense | 190 | 0.0% | 115 | 0.0% |
| DUI | 148 | 0.0% | 156 | 0.0% |
| Other | 164 | 0.6% | 106 | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 126 | 2.4% | 43 | 0.0% |
| Burglary | 124 | 1.6% | 24 | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Drug Possession in Lee County?
In Lee County, private attorney clients have a 0.0% dismissal rate for Drug Possession compared to 0.0% for public defender clients. This is a 0.0 percentage point difference based on 515 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Drug Possession in Lee County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Drug Possession in Lee County is 80.7% with a public defender and 75.7% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Lee County compare to statewide averages for Drug Possession counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.0% for public defenders and 1.3% for private attorneys. Lee County's difference of 0.0 points compares to a statewide difference of 0.3 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Possession in Lee County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2025). Based on 515 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/drug-possession/lee
Conviction includes guilty pleas and adjudication withheld. Data covers 2023–2025 FDLE public court records. Last updated: September 2026
Important: Differences in outcomes between public defenders and private attorneys may reflect differences in case complexity, defendant resources, charge severity, and other factors — not solely attorney quality. These statistics do not predict individual case outcomes.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 515 cases analyzed · Lee County · 2025 · Data last updated September 2026