Duval County · Jacksonville

Federal Sentencing for Duval County (Jacksonville) Defendants: Facts, Myths & Figures

Duval County itself sits in the Middle District of Florida (Jacksonville Division), but Jacksonville-area defendants often face conduct that crosses into the Northern District of Florida — from I-10 drug corridors to multi-district fraud schemes. The federal Guidelines apply the same way in either district.

Courthouse: Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse, 300 N. Hogan Street, Jacksonville

Facts

Middle District Jacksonville cases are heard at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse on N. Hogan Street.
Venue can lie in any district where an element of the offense occurred (18 U.S.C. § 3237).
Relevant conduct under USSG § 1B1.3 pulls in acts beyond the counts of conviction, including uncharged and acquitted conduct.
First Step Act earned-time credits apply BOP-wide regardless of the sentencing district.

Myths vs. reality

Myth: Being charged in a different district gets you a lighter sentence.

Reality: The Guidelines are national. Variances differ judge-to-judge, not district-to-district on paper.

Myth: Acquitted conduct can't be used at sentencing.

Reality: Under current law it may still be considered as relevant conduct if proven by a preponderance, though 2024 policy changes have narrowed its use.

Myth: Federal sentences run concurrently with state sentences by default.

Reality: Under 18 U.S.C. § 3584, multiple terms run consecutively unless the court orders concurrent service.

Key figures

Standard of proof at sentencing: Preponderance of the evidence
Supervised release max (Class A/B felony): Up to life
FSA supervised-release credit cap: Up to 12 months toward SR

Facts

Myths vs. reality

Key figures

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