Skip to Navigation | Skip to Main Content | Skip to Site Map

MyFloridaHouse.gov | Mobile Site

Senate Tracker: Sign Up | Login

The Florida Senate

2020 Florida Statutes

Title XLVII CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS
Chapter 925
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 925
CHAPTER 925
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
925.0352 Notice of hearings in capital cases; expedited hearings.
925.05 Statements or confessions; availability to defendant.
925.055 Law enforcement investigative funds.
925.07 Parent or guardian to be notified before trial of minor; service of notice.
925.08 Prisoners awaiting trial may be worked on roads and other projects.
925.09 Authority of state attorney to order autopsies.
925.11 Postsentencing DNA testing.
925.12 DNA testing; defendants entering pleas.
925.0352 Notice of hearings in capital cases; expedited hearings.—
(1) A notice of hearing must be filed contemporaneously with each pleading filed with the court in a capital case.
(2) The trial court shall make every effort to expedite any hearing held by the court in a capital case.
History.—s. 4, ch. 98-198.
925.05 Statements or confessions; availability to defendant.—On motion of the defendant after an indictment, information, or affidavit has been filed, the court shall order the prosecuting attorney to permit the defendant to photograph or copy any written or recorded statements or confessions of the defendant, whether they are signed or not. The order shall specify the time, place, and manner of taking the photographs or copies and any other conditions.
History.—s. 1, ch. 63-263; s. 170, ch. 70-339.
925.055 Law enforcement investigative funds.—
(1) State and local law enforcement agencies which receive investigative and evidence funds from their budgetary authority or which receive special law enforcement trust funds for complex or protracted investigations shall adopt policies which provide for accountability of the expenditures of such funds.
(2) The policies of local law enforcement agencies must provide for an annual financial audit to be performed in conformity with generally accepted government accounting principles. Local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to reveal to the auditors the names of confidential informants, and the audit report may not include information exempted in s. 119.07. The names of confidential informants are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).
History.—s. 49, ch. 88-381; s. 1, ch. 94-70; s. 438, ch. 96-406.
925.07 Parent or guardian to be notified before trial of minor; service of notice.—
(1) When an unmarried minor is charged with an offense before any court in this state, notice of the charge shall be given before trial to the parent or guardian of the minor if the name and address is known. If the name and address is not known, notice shall be given to any friend or relative designated by the minor.
(2) Notice required by this section may be made in the same manner as the service of summons. If the person to be notified is beyond the jurisdiction of the court, notice may be given by registered mail or telegram, and return of the service shall be made in the same manner as the return on a summons.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 6221, 1911; RGS 6028; CGL 8322; s. 172, ch. 70-339; s. 1, ch. 77-119.
Note.—Former s. 932.38.
925.08 Prisoners awaiting trial may be worked on roads and other projects.—
(1) When the county commissioners decide it will be for the benefit of a prisoner and in the public interest, they may employ at labor on the streets of incorporated cities or towns, on the roads, bridges, or other public works in the county, or on other projects for which the governing body of the county could otherwise lawfully expend public funds and which it determines to be necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the county, a person charged with a misdemeanor and confined in the county jail for failure to give bail.
(2) No person shall be employed under this section without her or his written consent.
(3) No person shall work more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period.
(4) If a person employed under this section is acquitted or discharged from further prosecution, she or he shall be paid by the county at the rate of $5 for each day employed.
(5) If a person employed under this section is convicted, the time she or he was actually employed may be credited on any sentence of imprisonment, and if the person is fined, the value of the labor at $5 per day shall be credited to her or his fine and costs.
(6) No charge for food and lodging shall be made against a prisoner employed under this section.
(7) The county commissioners shall cause records to be kept of employment under this section, and a copy of the record shall be furnished to the court having jurisdiction of the prisoner.
History.—ss. 1-3, ch. 5260, 1903; GS 3945-3947; RGS 6047-6049; CGL 8348-8350; s. 173, ch. 70-339; s. 1, ch. 94-149; s. 1561, ch. 97-102.
Note.—Former ss. 932.42-932.44.
925.09 Authority of state attorney to order autopsies.—The state attorney may have an autopsy performed, before or after interment, on a dead body found in the county when she or he decides it is necessary in determining whether or not death was the result of a crime. Physicians performing the autopsy shall be paid reasonable fees by the county upon the approval of the county commission and the state attorney ordering the autopsy.
History.—s. 1, ch. 28019, 1953; s. 1, ch. 57-311; s. 174, ch. 70-339; s. 42, ch. 73-334; s. 1562, ch. 97-102; s. 83, ch. 2004-265.
Note.—Former s. 932.57.
925.11 Postsentencing DNA testing.—
(1) PETITION FOR EXAMINATION.—
(a)1. A person who has been tried and found guilty of committing a felony and has been sentenced by a court established by the laws of this state may petition that court to order the examination of physical evidence collected at the time of the investigation of the crime for which he or she has been sentenced that may contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and that would exonerate that person or mitigate the sentence that person received.
2. A person who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony prior to July 1, 2006, and has been sentenced by a court established by the laws of this state may petition that court to order the examination of physical evidence collected at the time of the investigation of the crime for which he or she has been sentenced that may contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and that would exonerate that person.
(b) A petition for postsentencing DNA testing under paragraph (a) may be filed or considered at any time following the date that the judgment and sentence in the case becomes final.
(2) METHOD FOR SEEKING POSTSENTENCING DNA TESTING.—
(a) The petition for postsentencing DNA testing must be made under oath by the sentenced defendant and must include the following:
1. A statement of the facts relied on in support of the petition, including a description of the physical evidence containing DNA to be tested and, if known, the present location or the last known location of the evidence and how it was originally obtained;
2. A statement that the evidence was not previously tested for DNA or a statement that the results of any previous DNA testing were inconclusive and that subsequent scientific developments in DNA testing techniques would likely produce a definitive result establishing that the petitioner is not the person who committed the crime;
3. A statement that the sentenced defendant is innocent and how the DNA testing requested by the petition will exonerate the defendant of the crime for which the defendant was sentenced or will mitigate the sentence received by the defendant for that crime;
4. A statement that identification of the defendant is a genuinely disputed issue in the case, and why it is an issue;
5. Any other facts relevant to the petition; and
6. A certificate that a copy of the petition has been served on the prosecuting authority.
(b) Upon receiving the petition, the clerk of the court shall file it and deliver the court file to the assigned judge.
(c) The court shall review the petition and deny it if it is insufficient. If the petition is sufficient, the prosecuting authority shall be ordered to respond to the petition within 30 days.
(d) Upon receiving the response of the prosecuting authority, the court shall review the response and enter an order on the merits of the petition or set the petition for hearing.
(e) Counsel may be appointed to assist the sentenced defendant if the petition proceeds to a hearing and if the court determines that the assistance of counsel is necessary and makes the requisite finding of indigency.
(f) The court shall make the following findings when ruling on the petition:
1. Whether the sentenced defendant has shown that the physical evidence that may contain DNA still exists;
2. Whether the results of DNA testing of that physical evidence would be admissible at trial and whether there exists reliable proof to establish that the evidence has not been materially altered and would be admissible at a future hearing; and
3. Whether there is a reasonable probability that the sentenced defendant would have been acquitted or would have received a lesser sentence if the DNA evidence had been admitted at trial.
(g) If the court orders DNA testing of the physical evidence, the cost of such testing may be assessed against the sentenced defendant unless he or she is indigent. If the sentenced defendant is indigent, the state shall bear the cost of the DNA testing ordered by the court.
(h) Any DNA testing ordered by the court shall be carried out by the Department of Law Enforcement or its designee, as provided in s. 943.3251.
(i) The results of the DNA testing ordered by the court shall be provided to the court, the sentenced defendant, and the prosecuting authority.
(3) RIGHT TO APPEAL; REHEARING.—
(a) An appeal from the court’s order on the petition for postsentencing DNA testing may be taken by any adversely affected party.
(b) An order denying relief shall include a statement that the sentenced defendant has the right to appeal within 30 days after the order denying relief is entered.
(c) The sentenced defendant may file a motion for rehearing of any order denying relief within 15 days after service of the order denying relief. The time for filing an appeal shall be tolled until an order on the motion for rehearing has been entered.
(d) The clerk of the court shall serve on all parties a copy of any order rendered with a certificate of service, including the date of service.
(4) PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE.—
(a) Governmental entities that may be in possession of any physical evidence in the case, including, but not limited to, any investigating law enforcement agency, the clerk of the court, the prosecuting authority, or the Department of Law Enforcement shall maintain any physical evidence collected at the time of the crime for which a postsentencing testing of DNA may be requested.
(b) In a case in which the death penalty is imposed, the evidence shall be maintained for 60 days after execution of the sentence. In all other cases, a governmental entity may dispose of the physical evidence if the term of the sentence imposed in the case has expired and no other provision of law or rule requires that the physical evidence be preserved or retained.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2001-97; s. 1, ch. 2004-67; s. 1, ch. 2006-292.
925.12 DNA testing; defendants entering pleas.—
(1) For defendants who have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony on or after July 1, 2006, a defendant may petition for postsentencing DNA testing under s. 925.11 under the following circumstances:
(a) The facts on which the petition is predicated were unknown to the petitioner or the petitioner’s attorney at the time the plea was entered and could not have been ascertained by the exercise of due diligence; or
(b) The physical evidence for which DNA testing is sought was not disclosed to the defense by the state prior to the entry of the plea by the petitioner.
(2) For defendants seeking to enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony on or after July 1, 2006, the court shall inquire of the defendant and of counsel for the defendant and the state as to physical evidence containing DNA known to exist that could exonerate the defendant prior to accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. If no physical evidence containing DNA that could exonerate the defendant is known to exist, the court may proceed with consideration of accepting the plea. If physical evidence containing DNA that could exonerate the defendant is known to exist, the court may postpone the proceeding on the defendant’s behalf and order DNA testing upon motion of counsel specifying the physical evidence to be tested.
(3) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Supreme Court adopt rules of procedure consistent with this section for a court, prior to the acceptance of a plea, to make an inquiry into the following matters:
(a) Whether counsel for the defense has reviewed the discovery disclosed by the state and whether such discovery included a listing or description of physical items of evidence.
(b) Whether the nature of the evidence against the defendant disclosed through discovery has been reviewed with the defendant.
(c) Whether the defendant or counsel for the defendant is aware of any physical evidence disclosed by the state for which DNA testing may exonerate the defendant.
(d) Whether the state is aware of any physical evidence for which DNA testing may exonerate the defendant.
(4) It is the intent of the Legislature that the postponement of the proceedings by the court on the defendant’s behalf under subsection (2) constitute an extension attributable to the defendant for purposes of the defendant’s right to a speedy trial.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2006-292.