Dixie County is located in the northern part of Florida’s west coast. It has a population of approximately 16,600 residents. The county seat is Cross City, Florida. Dixie lies between the Suwannee River and the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the county has the City of Hawkinsville where a sunken steamboat lies. Twenty different crops are grown commercially. The leading agricultural sources of revenue: corn, peanuts, dairying, cattle raising, hog raising, poultry and eggs. Theses attractions bring local history buffs. Lower Suwanee National Wildlife Refuge also brings tourists to the area.
Dixie County Judges
| Dixie County Judges: | Jurisdiction: |
| Judge Jennifer J. Johnson | All misdemeanor cases. |
3rd Circuit Judges in Dixie County
| 3rd Circuit Judges: | Jurisdiction: |
| Judge Mark F. Feagle | All Felony cases. |
Common Crimes in Dixie County, FL
Below is a list of the most common crimes people were arrested for in Dixie County, in 2016. These statistics were received from the Uniform Crime Report provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
| Offenses: | Total Arrests: |
| Drugs | 75 |
| Larceny | 28 |
| Simple Assault | 49 |
Dixie County Sheriff’s Office made all of the arrests for drugs, larceny and simple assault.
Total Arrests
In 2015 Dixie County reported there were 7 people arrested for DUI but in 2016 this number increased to 29 people. The drug arrests also increased from 41 people in 2015 to 75 people in 2016.
Specialty Courts
Adult Drug Treatment Court Program
Individuals that get arrested for drug related offenses that meet certain criteria may be admitted into the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program of Dixie County. To be considered for admission into the program, a defendant must: be at least 16 years of age, be a resident of the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida, or otherwise accepted in accordance with conditions outlined in a drug court transfer agreement with another circuit, be free from any prior violent felony conviction, have a current substance abuse/dependence diagnosis, or a documented history of substance abuse or a dependence diagnosis and have a current qualifying felony or misdemeanor charge. Participants may be reprimanded or have sanctions imposed upon them for unsatisfactory performance, including incarceration, termination of the program and full prosecution for the underlying crime.
Mental Health Court
The Dixie County Mental Health Court is a special part of the Dixie County Court. It is a Court-supervised program for those arrested in Dixie County who has a mental illness, who need treatment and other services, and who choose to participate in the mental health program instead of having their case precede through the regular court process. The goal of this program is to divert non-violent defendants with mental illness from the Dixie County Jail and active criminal prosecution in the Dixie County Court to appropriate community based treatment.
