FAQs

  • Types of Crimes

    • What is an Assault?
      An assault is the intentional and unlawful threat, by word or act, to do violence against a victim in which the defendant has the ability to carry out the threat and the victim has a well-founded fear that violence is imminent. Assault is a second degree misdemeanor. An assault becomes an aggravated assault and is classified as a felony if committed with a deadly weapon in which the defendant did not have an intent to kill but did have an intent to commit a crime. Aggravated assault is a third degree felony.
    • What is the difference between Battery and Domestic Violence?
      Battery is the intentional touching or striking of a victim against his or her will or intentionally causing bodily harm. Battery is a first degree misdemeanor. Aggravated battery occurs when a defendant intentionally or knowingly causes the victim great bodily harm, permanently disables or disfigures the victim, uses a deadly weapon or knew (or should have known) the victim was pregnant. Aggravated battery is a second degree felony. Domestic violence, in general, is merely a battery between two people who are or have been married, dating or cohabitating. Domestic violence and battery are misdemeanors but can be filed as felonies if the defendant has a history of battery or domestic violence.
    • What are Violation of Injunctions and Stalking?
      To stalk someone means to willfully, maliciously and repeatedly follow or harass a victim. Cyberstalking using a computer or other electronic means is also illegal. Stalking is a misdemeanor, Aggravated Stalking, a third degree felony, requires the added element of a credible threat with the intent to place the victim in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury or if there is an injunction in place. An injunction is a court order to prohibit a person from contacting, following or be near a person. There are different types of injunctions depending on the relationship of the parties and the facts surrounding the injunction.
    • What constitutes the crime of Carjacking?
      Carjacking is the forcible or violent taking of a motor vehicle from a person with the intent of either permanently or temporarily depriving the person or owner of the motor vehicle. Carjacking is a first degree felony. If the defendant uses a firearm then there are certain minimum mandatory prison sentences which can apply.
    • Is there a difference between DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide?
      Both charges are second degree felonies involving a death as a result either the reckless operation of a car (Vehicular Homicide) or the death of a person when the driver of the vehicle has an unlawful blood alcohol or their normal faculties are impaired (DUI manslaughter).
    • Is Incest illegal in Florida?
      Anyone who marries or has sexual intercourse with a person to whom he or she is related by lineal consanguinity (child, parent, grandparent) or with a brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece is guilty of incest. Incest is a third degree felony.
    • What is Kidnapping?

      Kidnapping under Florida law does not require a ransom note - or even holding someone hostage. Kidnapping is defined as the forcible and secret abducting, confining or imprisoning of a victim against his or her will with intent to

      • (1) collect a ransom
      • (2) commit or facilitate the commission of a felony
      • (3) inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim, or
      • (4) interfere with any governmental or political function.

      Kidnapping is a first degree felony. Anyone who kidnaps a child under the age of 13 and commits aggravated child abuse, sexual battery or a lewd act in the presence of the child commits a life felony.

    • What is Robbery?
      Robbery is the forcible, violent or threatening taking of property from another with intent to either permanently or temporarily deprive the person or owner of the property. Robbery is a second degree felony. If in the course of a robbery the defendant carries a firearm or other deadly weapon, the robbery is a first degree felony. Home invasion robbery occurs when the defendant enters a victim's home and robs the occupants in their dwelling. Home invasion robbery is a first degree felony.
    • Is the Possession of Child Pornography against Florida law?
      It is a Florida State and Federal Crime to knowingly distribute sell or have in his or her possession, with intent to sell, distribute, transmit, or show images which depict a child (minor under the age of 18) in a sexual, lewd, lascivious or obscene manner. A person can be prosecuted in both Federal and State courts based on the same images. The crimes typically carry a significant prison sentence.
    • How is Theft defined?
      Florida has combined the crimes of larceny, embezzlement, false pretenses and receiving stolen property into the category of theft. A person commits theft when he or she knowingly obtains or uses the property of another with intent to either temporarily or permanently deprive the other person of the property. Theft of property valued at $100,000 or more is grand theft in the first degree and a first degree felony. Theft of property valued at $20,000-100,000 is grand theft in the second degree and a second degree felony. Theft of property valued at $300-20,000 is grand theft in the third degree and a third degree felony. Theft of any other property is petit theft and a second degree misdemeanor. (The category of larceny, the taking of property without consent and with intent to steal, is still used for reporting purposes.)
    • Is there ever a lawful Justification for the Commission of a Crime?
      Under certain circumstances, what would otherwise be a homicide or felony can be justified and thus a person can not be convicted of that crime. A common example of a justifiable crime is one committed in self-defense. Generally, people are permitted to use a reasonable amount of non-deadly force to protect their property. Florida law even allows for the use of deadly force in self-defense if a person reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily injury. The Castle Doctrine may also apply as a defense to homicide. Depending on the circumstances, coercion, necessity, mistake or entrapment are other instances for which a defense to a crime may be justified or the penalty mitigated to some extent.
    • Are Juveniles treated differently than adults?

      People under eighteen are considered juveniles under Florida law. The juvenile court system is part of the circuit court and its purpose is to rehabilitate, not just punish, juveniles in trouble with the law.

      If a juvenile is arrested, a law enforcement officer must attempt to notify the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian. Juveniles have all the same rights as adults in regards to the right to consult an attorney before making any statement to the police. A child can be taken to the county jail and held for up to six hours to be fingerprinted and photographed if a reasonable belief exists that he or she has committed a crime.

      If a juvenile is charged with a crime, he or she has the right to be represented by an attorney at all stages of any juvenile court proceeding. If a judge determines the parents are financially capable, the judge may order the parents to provide an attorney. Otherwise, the judge will appoint a public defender to represent the child. It should be noted that there is no constitutional right to be tried as a juvenile. There are provisions in Florida law permitting the state attorney to transfer certain charges or certain children to the adult criminal courts. If a juvenile court finds that a child is responsible for a crime, the child is said to be delinquent. Unlike criminals, a delinquent child cannot be sentenced to prison. Instead, the juvenile court may order:

      • The child be placed on juvenile probation (permitting the child to live at home while imposing certain limitations on his or her freedom)
      • The child be committed to a licensed childcare agency
      • The child be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice
      • The child's driving license be revoked or suspended
      • The child or the child's parents make restitution
      • The child to participate in a community work project

      Juvenile records are kept confidential and separate from other court records. Access is limited to the child, his or her attorney, the child's parents, the Department of Juvenile Justice, law enforcement and some school personnel. Juvenile records are not accessible to the general public. However, juvenile court proceedings are open to the general public and the press is free to publish any information gathered at these proceedings.

  • Victim Services, Restitution & Compensation

    • Victim Services

      Florida law enforcement personnel are required to provide victims with information regarding available victim service programs, including:

      • The right to request restitution (see below)
      • Crisis intervention services, support and bereavement counseling and community-based victim treatment counseling
      • The role of the victim in the criminal justice process, the legal rights of the victim and the stages of the criminal justice process
      • The availability of protection for the victim
      • The availability of victim compensation (see below).
    • Restitution
      Under Florida law, an offender may be required to make restitution in addition to any criminal sentence. Restitution for bodily injury, lost income and funeral expenses can be court ordered for the victim or the estate and next of kin of the victim if the victim died as a result of the criminal offense.
    • Compensation

      Florida passed the Florida Crimes Compensation Act, which provides government financial compensation to eligible victims. To be eligible to receive compensation, a person must be a victim, or someone who intervened and aids another and suffers bodily injury or death as a result of trying to prevent a crime, lawfully apprehending a suspected criminal or helping a victim of crime, a surviving spouse, parent, child or other dependent.

      The amount of an award is based on the actual needs of the person requesting assistance. The maximum compensation award is $10,000, including all costs or losses. Emergency awards are also available. A claim for a financial award must be filed no later than one year after the crime occurred or after the death of the victim. However, if the Attorney General's Office determines there is good cause, the deadline may be extended to two years after the crime or death.

      A defendant can be held responsible to reimburse the State for the money it pays through the Crimes Compensation Fund.

    • Can I Keep This Off My Record?
      Florida law does provide for sealing and expunging criminal records, but there are exceptions. At Funk, Szachacz & Diamond, LLC, we can tell you if your situation qualifies.
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