Florida Statutes 921.00241 – Prison diversion program
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(1) Notwithstanding s. 921.0024 and effective for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2009, a court may divert from the state correctional system an offender who would otherwise be sentenced to a state facility by sentencing the offender to a nonstate prison sanction as provided in subsection (2). An offender may be sentenced to a nonstate prison sanction if the offender meets all of the following criteria:
For details, see Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(e)
(a) The offender’s primary offense is a felony of the third degree.
Attorney's Note
Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the third degree | up to 5 years | up to $5,000 |
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 921.00241
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Primary offense: means the offense at conviction pending before the court for sentencing for which the total sentence points recommend a sanction that is as severe as, or more severe than, the sanction recommended for any other offense committed by the offender and pending before the court at sentencing. See Florida Statutes 921.0021
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
(b) The offender’s total sentence points score, as provided in s. 921.0024, is not more than 48 points, or the offender’s total sentence points score is 54 points and 6 of those points are for a violation of probation, community control, or other community supervision, and do not involve a new violation of law.
(c) The offender has not been convicted or previously convicted of a forcible felony as defined in s. 776.08, but excluding any third degree felony violation under chapter 810.
(d) The offender’s primary offense does not require a minimum mandatory sentence.
(2) If the court elects to impose a sentence as provided in this section, the court shall sentence the offender to a term of probation, community control, or community supervision with mandatory participation in a prison diversion program of the Department of Corrections if such program is funded and exists in the judicial circuit in which the offender is sentenced. The prison diversion program shall be designed to meet the unique needs of each judicial circuit and of the offender population of that circuit. The program may require residential, nonresidential, or day-reporting requirements; substance abuse treatment; employment; restitution; academic or vocational opportunities; or community service work.
(3) The court that sentences a defendant to a nonstate prison sanction pursuant to subsection (2) shall make written findings that the defendant meets the criteria in subsection (1); and the sentencing order must indicate that the offender was sentenced to the prison diversion program pursuant to subsection (2). The court may order the offender to pay all or a portion of the costs related to the prison diversion program if the court determines that the offender has the ability to pay.