House Bill 0607er

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  2         An act relating to pretrial release; amending

  3         s. 903.046, F.S.; revising criteria for bail

  4         determination; amending s. 907.041, F.S.;

  5         prohibiting persons charged with dangerous

  6         crimes from being placed on pretrial release on

  7         nonmonetary conditions at first appearance

  8         hearings; providing criteria for pretrial

  9         release on nonmonetary conditions; creating s.

10         903.0471, F.S.; authorizing a court to order

11         pretrial detention for persons on pretrial

12         release who commit new crimes under certain

13         circumstances; amending s. 903.26, F.S.;

14         revising time period for bond forfeiture

15         payment and notice; repealing Rules 3.131 and

16         3.132, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure,

17         relating to pretrial release and pretrial

18         detention, to the extent those rules are

19         inconsistent with this act; providing an

20         effective date.

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22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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24         Section 1.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section

25  903.046, Florida Statutes, is amended, present paragraph (j)

26  of that subsection is redesignated as paragraph (k), and a new

27  paragraph (j) is added to that subsection to read:

28         903.046  Purpose of and criteria for bail

29  determination.--

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  1         (2)  When determining whether to release a defendant on

  2  bail or other conditions, and what that bail or those

  3  conditions may be, the court shall consider:

  4         (d)  The defendant's past and present conduct,

  5  including any record of convictions, previous flight to avoid

  6  prosecution, or failure to appear at court proceedings.

  7  However, any defendant who previously had willfully and

  8  knowingly failed to appear on the day of any required court

  9  proceeding in the case at issue and breached a bond as

10  specified in s. 903.26, but who had later voluntarily appeared

11  or surrendered, shall not be eligible for a recognizance bond;

12  and any defendant who willfully and knowingly failed to appear

13  on the day of any required court proceeding in the case at

14  issue and breached a bond as specified in s. 903.26 and who

15  was later arrested at any time following forfeiture shall not

16  be eligible for a recognizance bond or for any form of bond

17  which does not require a monetary undertaking or commitment

18  equal to or greater than $2,000 or twice the value of the

19  monetary commitment or undertaking of the original bond,

20  whichever is greater. Notwithstanding anything in this

21  section, the court has discretion in determining conditions of

22  release if the defendant proves circumstances beyond his or

23  her control for the failure to appear. This section may not be

24  construed as imposing additional duties or obligations on a

25  governmental entity related to monetary bonds.

26         (j)  Whether there is probable cause to believe that

27  the defendant committed a new crime while on pretrial release.

28         Section 2.  Subsections (3) and (4) of section 907.041,

29  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

30         907.041  Pretrial detention and release.--

31         (3)  RELEASE ON NONMONETARY CONDITIONS.--


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  1         (a)  It is the intent of the Legislature to create a

  2  presumption in favor of release on nonmonetary conditions for

  3  any person who is granted pretrial release unless such person

  4  is charged with a dangerous crime as defined in subsection

  5  (4).  Such person shall be released on monetary conditions

  6  only if it is determined that such monetary conditions are

  7  necessary to assure the presence of the person at trial or at

  8  other proceedings, to protect the community from risk of

  9  physical harm to persons, to assure the presence of the

10  accused at trial, or to assure the integrity of the judicial

11  process.

12         (b)  No person shall be released on nonmonetary

13  conditions under the supervision of a pretrial release

14  service, unless the service certifies to the court that it has

15  investigated or otherwise verified:

16         1.  The circumstances of the accused's family,

17  employment, financial resources, character, mental condition,

18  and length of residence in the community;

19         2.  The accused's record of convictions, of appearances

20  at court proceedings, of flight to avoid prosecution, or of

21  failure to appear at court proceedings; and

22         3.  Other facts necessary to assist the court in its

23  determination of the indigency of the accused and whether she

24  or he should be released under the supervision of the service.

25         (4)  PRETRIAL DETENTION.--

26         (a)  As used in this subsection, "dangerous crime"

27  means any of the following:

28         1.  Arson;

29         2.  Aggravated assault;

30         3.  Aggravated battery;

31         4.  Illegal use of explosives;


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  1         5.  Child abuse or aggravated child abuse;

  2         6.  Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult, or

  3  aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult;

  4         7.  Hijacking;

  5         8.  Kidnapping;

  6         9.  Homicide;

  7         10.  Manslaughter;

  8         11.  Sexual battery;

  9         12.  Robbery;

10         13.  Carjacking;

11         14.  Lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault or act upon

12  or in presence of a child under the age of 16 years;

13         15.  Sexual activity with a child, who is 12 years of

14  age or older but less than 18 years of age, by or at

15  solicitation of person in familial or custodial authority;

16         16.  Burglary of a dwelling;

17         17.  Stalking and aggravated stalking;

18         18.  Act of domestic violence as defined in s. 741.28;

19  and

20         19.  Attempting or conspiring to commit any such crime;

21  and home-invasion robbery.

22         (b)  No person charged with a dangerous crime shall be

23  granted nonmonetary pretrial release at a first appearance

24  hearing; however, the court shall retain the discretion to

25  release an accused on electronic monitoring or on recognizance

26  bond if the findings on the record of facts and circumstances

27  warrant such a release.

28         (c)(b)  The court may order pretrial detention if it

29  finds a substantial probability, based on a defendant's past

30  and present patterns of behavior, the criteria in s. 903.046,

31  and any other relevant facts, that:


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  1         1.  The defendant has previously violated conditions of

  2  release and that no further conditions of release are

  3  reasonably likely to assure the defendant's appearance at

  4  subsequent proceedings;

  5         2.  The defendant, with the intent to obstruct the

  6  judicial process, has threatened, intimidated, or injured any

  7  victim, potential witness, juror, or judicial officer, or has

  8  attempted or conspired to do so, and that no condition of

  9  release will reasonably prevent the obstruction of the

10  judicial process;

11         3.  The defendant is charged with trafficking in

12  controlled substances as defined by s. 893.135, that there is

13  a substantial probability that the defendant has committed the

14  offense, and that no conditions of release will reasonably

15  assure the defendant's appearance at subsequent criminal

16  proceedings; or

17         4.  The defendant poses the threat of harm to the

18  community.  The court may so conclude, if it finds that the

19  defendant is presently charged with a dangerous crime, that

20  there is a substantial probability that the defendant

21  committed such crime, that the factual circumstances of the

22  crime indicate a disregard for the safety of the community,

23  and that there are no conditions of release reasonably

24  sufficient to protect the community from the risk of physical

25  harm to persons. In addition, the court must find that at

26  least one of the following conditions is present:

27         a.  The defendant has previously been convicted of a

28  crime punishable by death or life imprisonment.

29         b.  The defendant has been convicted of a dangerous

30  crime within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of

31  his or her arrest for the crime presently charged.


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  1         c.  The defendant is on probation, parole, or other

  2  release pending completion of sentence or on pretrial release

  3  for a dangerous crime at the time of the current arrest.

  4         (d)(c)  When a person charged with a crime for which

  5  pretrial detention could be ordered is arrested, the arresting

  6  agency shall promptly notify the state attorney of the arrest

  7  and shall provide the state attorney with such information as

  8  the arresting agency has obtained relative to:

  9         1.  The nature and circumstances of the offense

10  charged;

11         2.  The nature of any physical evidence seized and the

12  contents of any statements obtained from the defendant or any

13  witness;

14         3.  The defendant's family ties, residence, employment,

15  financial condition, and mental condition; and

16         4.  The defendant's past conduct and present conduct,

17  including any record of convictions, previous flight to avoid

18  prosecution, or failure to appear at court proceedings.

19         (e)(d)  When a person charged with a crime for which

20  pretrial detention could be ordered is arrested, the arresting

21  agency may detain such defendant, prior to the filing by the

22  state attorney of a motion seeking pretrial detention, for a

23  period not to exceed 24 hours.

24         (f)(e)  The court shall order detention only after a

25  pretrial detention hearing.  The hearing shall be held within

26  5 days of the filing by the state attorney of a complaint to

27  seek pretrial detention.  The defendant may request a

28  continuance.  No continuance shall be for longer than 5 days

29  unless there are extenuating circumstances. The defendant may

30  be detained pending the hearing.  The state attorney shall be

31  entitled to one continuance for good cause.


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  1         (g)(f)  The state attorney has the burden of showing

  2  the need for pretrial detention.

  3         (h)(g)  The defendant is entitled to be represented by

  4  counsel, to present witnesses and evidence, and to

  5  cross-examine witnesses.  The court may admit relevant

  6  evidence without complying with the rules of evidence, but

  7  evidence secured in violation of the United States

  8  Constitution or the Constitution of the State of Florida shall

  9  not be admissible.  No testimony by the defendant shall be

10  admissible to prove guilt at any other judicial proceeding,

11  but such testimony may be admitted in an action for perjury,

12  based upon the defendant's statements made at the pretrial

13  detention hearing, or for impeachment.

14         (i)(h)  The pretrial detention order of the court shall

15  be based solely upon evidence produced at the hearing and

16  shall contain findings of fact and conclusions of law to

17  support it.  The order shall be made either in writing or

18  orally on the record. The court shall render its findings

19  within 24 hours of the pretrial detention hearing.

20         (j)(i)  If ordered detained pending trial pursuant to

21  subparagraph (c)4. (b)4., the defendant may not be held for

22  more than 90 days.  Failure of the state to bring the

23  defendant to trial within that time shall result in the

24  defendant's release from detention, subject to any conditions

25  of release, unless the trial delay was requested or caused by

26  the defendant or his or her counsel.

27         (k)(j)  A defendant convicted at trial following the

28  issuance of a pretrial detention order shall have credited to

29  his or her sentence, if imprisonment is imposed, the time the

30  defendant was held under the order, pursuant to s. 921.161.

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  1         (l)(k)  The defendant shall be entitled to dissolution

  2  of the pretrial detention order whenever the court finds that

  3  a subsequent event has eliminated the basis for detention.

  4         Section 3.  Section 903.0471, Florida Statutes, is

  5  created to read:

  6         903.0471  Violation of condition of pretrial

  7  release.--Notwithstanding s. 907.041, a court may, on its own

  8  motion, revoke pretrial release and order pretrial detention

  9  if the court finds probable cause to believe that the

10  defendant committed a new crime while on pretrial release.

11         Section 4.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section 903.26,

12  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

13         903.26  Forfeiture of the bond; when and how directed;

14  discharge; how and when made; effect of payment.--

15         (2)(a)  If there is a breach of the bond, the court

16  shall declare the bond and any bonds or money deposited as

17  bail forfeited.  The clerk of the court shall mail a notice to

18  the surety agent and surety company in writing within 5 days

19  of the forfeiture.  A certificate signed by the clerk of the

20  court or the clerk's designee, certifying that the notice

21  required herein was mailed on a specified date and accompanied

22  by a copy of the required notice, shall constitute sufficient

23  proof that such mailing was properly accomplished as indicated

24  therein.  If such mailing was properly accomplished as

25  evidenced by such certificate, the failure of the surety

26  agent, of a company, or of a defendant to receive such mail

27  notice shall not constitute a defense to such forfeiture and

28  shall not be grounds for discharge, remission, reduction, set

29  aside, or continuance of such forfeiture.  The forfeiture

30  shall be paid within 60 35 days of the date the notice was

31  mailed.


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  1         (b)  Failure of the defendant to appear at the time,

  2  date, and place of required appearance shall result in

  3  forfeiture of the bond.  Such forfeiture shall be

  4  automatically entered by the clerk upon such failure to

  5  appear, and the clerk shall follow the procedures outlined in

  6  paragraph (a). However, the court may determine, in its

  7  discretion, in the interest of justice, that an appearance by

  8  the defendant on the same day as required does not warrant

  9  forfeiture of the bond; and the court may direct the clerk to

10  set aside any such forfeiture which may have been entered.

11  Any appearance by the defendant later than the required day

12  constitutes forfeiture of the bond, and the court shall not

13  preclude entry of such forfeiture by the clerk.

14         (c)  If there is a breach of the bond, the clerk shall

15  provide, upon request, a certified copy of the warrant or

16  capias to the bail bond agent or surety company.

17         (3)  Sixty Thirty-five days after the forfeiture notice

18  has been mailed:

19         (a)  State and county officials having custody of

20  forfeited money shall deposit the money in the county fine and

21  forfeiture fund;

22         (b)  Municipal officials having custody of forfeited

23  money shall deposit the money in a designated municipal fund;

24         (c)  Officials having custody of bonds as authorized by

25  s. 903.16 shall transmit the bonds to the clerk of the circuit

26  court who shall sell them at market value and disburse the

27  proceeds as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b).

28         Section 5.  Rules 3.131 and 3.132, Florida Rules of

29  Criminal Procedure, are repealed to the extent that the rules

30  are inconsistent with this act.

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  1         Section 6.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  2  law, except that section 5 shall take effect only if this act

  3  is passed by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the

  4  membership of each house of the Legislature.

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