The Florida Senate

938.27  Judgment for costs on conviction.--

(1)  In all criminal cases, convicted persons are liable for payment of the documented costs of prosecution, including investigative costs incurred by law enforcement agencies, by fire departments for arson investigations, and by investigations of the Department of Financial Services or the Office of Financial Regulation of the Financial Services Commission, if requested by such agencies. These costs shall be included and entered in the judgment rendered against the convicted person.

(2)(a)  The court shall require the defendant to pay the costs within a specified period or in specified installments.

(b)  The end of such period or the last such installment shall not be later than:

1.  The end of the period of probation or community control, if probation or community control is ordered;

2.  Five years after the end of the term of imprisonment imposed, if the court does not order probation or community control; or

3.  Five years after the date of sentencing in any other case.

However, in no event shall the obligation to pay any unpaid amounts expire if not paid in full within the period specified in this paragraph.

(c)  If not otherwise provided by the court under this section, costs shall be paid immediately.

(3)  If a defendant is placed on probation or community control, payment of any costs under this section shall be a condition of such probation or community control. The court may revoke probation or community control if the defendant fails to pay these costs.

(4)  Any dispute as to the proper amount or type of costs shall be resolved by the court by the preponderance of the evidence. The burden of demonstrating the amount of costs incurred is on the state attorney. The burden of demonstrating the financial resources of the defendant and the financial needs of the defendant is on the defendant. The burden of demonstrating such other matters as the court deems appropriate is upon the party designated by the court as justice requires.

(5)  Any default in payment of costs may be collected by any means authorized by law for enforcement of a judgment.

(6)  The clerk of the court shall collect and dispense cost payments in any case.

(7)  Investigative costs which are recovered shall be returned to the appropriate investigative agency which incurred the expense. Costs shall include actual expenses incurred in conducting the investigation and prosecution of the criminal case; however, costs may also include the salaries of permanent employees. Any investigative costs recovered on behalf of a state agency must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the agency operating trust fund, and a report of the payment must be sent to the agency.

(8)  Costs that are collected by the state attorney under this section shall be deposited into the state attorney's grants and donations trust fund to be used during the fiscal year in which the funds are collected, or in any subsequent fiscal year, for actual expenses incurred in investigating and prosecuting criminal cases, which may include the salaries of permanent employees.

History.--s. 1, ch. 76, 1846; RS 2983; GS 4057; RGS 6161; CGL 8475; s. 47, ch. 87-243; s. 7, ch. 92-300; s. 4, ch. 97-60; s. 21, ch. 97-271; s. 25, ch. 2001-122; s. 1925, ch. 2003-261; s. 127, ch. 2003-402.

Note.--Former s. 939.01.