YOU ASKED FOR IT - IT'S FINALLY HERE - FLORIDA'S UNIFORM STATEWIDE BOND SCHEDULE

Updated by Rumpole: The Official Schedule approved by the Supreme Court (Motto: "Precedent in death penalty cases is wayyyy overrated" )  is included at the bottom of the post.

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

UNIFORM STATEWIDE BOND SCHEDULE .....

The Supreme Court of Florida signed Administrative Order No. AOSC23-88 on December 12, 2023.

The bond schedule below is effective from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.

For a more detailed understanding of the AO, you can find the seven page document here: 

In part, the AO reads:

The uniform statewide bond schedule shall not bind a judge in an individual case who is conducting a first appearance hearing or bail determination.

The chief judge of a judicial circuit may establish a local bond schedule that adds conditions of release and/or increases the bond amounts above those required by this schedule. The chief judge of a judicial circuit may petition this Court for approval of a local bond schedule that sets lower bond amounts than those required by this schedule. 

......

§ 903.011(6), Florida Statutes, states in pertinent part: A person may not be released before his or her first appearance hearing . . . if the person meets any of the following criteria:

The AO then goes on to list seven subsections, including:

(g) The person’s current offense of arrest is for one or more of the following crimes:

1. A capital felony, life felony, felony of the first degree, or felony of the second degree;

.......

Each crime of arrest requires a separate bond pursuant to § 903.02(4), Florida Statutes, and Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.131(b)(2).

HERE IS THE BOND SCHEDULE:

1. For persons arrested for a crime listed in § 903.011(6), Fla. Stat., or who meet the criteria in § 903.011(6), Fla. Stat.

Bond: None; 1st appearance required

2. For persons not covered by number 1., arrested for a third degree felony that involves any amount of force or threat of force against a person.

Bond: $5,000

3. For persons not covered by number 1., arrested for a third degree felony that does not involve any force or threat of force against a person.

Bond: $2,500

4. For persons not covered by number 1., arrested for a first degree misdemeanor or an ordinance punishable like a first degree misdemeanor, that involves any amount of force or threat of force against a person. 

Bond: $1,000

5. For persons not covered by number 1., arrested for a first degree misdemeanor or an ordinance punishable like a first degree misdemeanor, that does not involve any force or threat of force against a person and that is not driving under the influence or boating under the influence.

Bond: $500

6. For persons not covered by number 1., arrested for a second degree misdemeanor or an ordinance punishable like a second degree misdemeanor, that involves any amount of force or threat of force against a person.

Bond: $250

7. For persons not covered by number 1., arrested for a second degree misdemeanor or an ordinance punishable like a second degree misdemeanor, that does not involve force or threat of force against a person and that is not driving under the influence or boating under the influence.

Bond: $150

8. For persons not covered by numbers 1. or 3., arrested for driving under the influence or boating under the influence.

a. First degree misdemeanor.             Bond: $1,000

b. Second offense, second degree misdemeanor.     Bond: $750

c. First offense, second degree misdemeanor.     Bond: $500

CAPTAIN OUT .......
Captain4Justice@gmail.com

Supreme Court of Florida Administrative Order No. AOSC23-88, In Re_ Uniform Statewide Bond Schedule by Anonymous PbHV4H on Scribd

BONDS IN BROWARD

 Long rumored, the issue of a client getting a bond in Broward has been most Miami lawyers' white whale. We hear of the existence of a bond for a client, but we rarely see one. 

It was not that long ago when we appeared before Judge XXX on a bond motion on a marijuana trafficking case. After making us wait until the end of the calendar (naturally) he looked at the motion, heard from the prosecution (who naturally objected) and promptly doubled the bond amount, commenting that "bonds are like elevators- they can go up or down". 

Wise words from a Broward judicial hack.  Postscript to the story is that upon the retaining of a local lawyer as co-counsel, the bond was reduced to the amount we initially requested. And most Miami lawyers have similar Broweird stories. 

Attached is the new Broward Bond schedule. Maybe it's the absence of former State Attorney Satz "(Motto: "NO BOND FOR YOU" (see below) ), but the schedule appears reasonable. 

Bond Broward by Anonymous PbHV4H on Scribd

NO BONDS FOR YOU!!