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Navigation
- DUI and DWI Part 1 - Booking, Arrest, and Bail An "arrest" in strict legal terms occurs when a person has been placed under police custody
- Trying to Find Public Arrest Records? Here is How to Easily Find Public Records From Home
- Drug Possession Charges Three Tips For Getting the Best Defense.
- Drunk Driving 3 Myths About Alcohol and Impaired Driving
- Domestic Violence Charge? Help Your Domestic Violence Attorney Build a Solid Case
- DUI Charge? Keys to Beating an Aggravated DUI Charge
Criminal Penalties in Florida
Florida classifies crimes as either a Misdemeanor Offense or a Felony Offense.
The potential criminal penalties increase based on the severity of the crime or the frequency that a person is convicted of a specific crime.
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Misdemeanor Offenses
Misdemeanor offenses are crimes that are punishable by less than one year in jail. Unless charged with other felony offenses, misdemeanors are handled by a county court judge and are considered less serious crimes than felony offenses. Misdemeanors are categorized as either first degree or second degree misdemeanors.
Second Degree Misdemeanor
A second-degree misdemeanor is a crime punishable by no more than sixty days in jail, six months of probation, and a $500 fine.
First Degree Misdemeanor
A first-degree misdemeanor is a crime punishable by no more than one year in jail, one-year probation, and a $1,000 fine.
Felony Offenses
Felony offenses are handled by circuit court judges and are punishable by the possibility of more than one-year in prison. Felony offenses are sentenced pursuant to Florida's criminal punishment code ("CPC").
Under the CPC, commonly referred to as a scoresheet, each felony is scored a specific amount of points based on upon a statutory severity ranking, which are determined by the Florida legislature regardless of statutory degree. The higher the level a felony is designated, the more points that will appear on your CPC scoresheet. If you score more than 44 points, you are subject to a minimum term of imprisonment. If you score less than 44 points, a judge is not required to sentence you to prison, but may still do so.
Third Degree Felony
A third degree felony is punishable by up to five years in prison, five years probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Second Degree Felony
A second-degree felony is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison, fifteen years probation, and a $10,000 fine.
First Degree Felony
A first-degree felony is punishable by up to thirty years in prison, thirty years probation, and a $10,000 fine.
Life Felony
A life felony is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole, or probation for the remainder of your life, and a $15,000 fine.
Capital Felony
A capital felony is punishable by death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.