Florida criminal charge
Court-ordered sealing of criminal history records in Florida
Court-ordered sealing of criminal history records is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 943.059. Its classification is not fixed: Florida assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Fla. Stat. § 943.059.
What is the penalty for court-ordered sealing of criminal history records in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (False sworn statement in petition to seal — A person who knowingly provides false information on the sworn statement accompanying a petition to seal commits this offense.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (False sworn statement in petition to seal — A person who knowingly provides false information on the sworn statement accompanying a petition to seal commits this offense.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Unlawful disclosure of sealed record information by licensing/employment entity employee — An employee of an entity authorized to receive sealed record information who discloses that information to unauthorized persons commits this offense.; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Unlawful disclosure of sealed record information by licensing/employment entity employee — An employee of an entity authorized to receive sealed record information who discloses that information to unauthorized persons commits this offense.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).
How is court-ordered sealing of criminal history records classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False sworn statement in petition to seal | Felony of the Third Degree | A person who knowingly provides false information on the sworn statement accompanying a petition to seal commits this offense. | Fla. Stat. § 943.059(3)(b) |
| Unlawful disclosure of sealed record information by licensing/employment entity employee | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | An employee of an entity authorized to receive sealed record information who discloses that information to unauthorized persons commits this offense. | Fla. Stat. § 943.059(6)(d) |
Common questions about court-ordered sealing of criminal history records in Florida
Is court-ordered sealing of criminal history records a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: court-ordered sealing of criminal history records ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Felony of the Third Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 943.059.
False sworn statement in petition to seal: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 943.059(3)(b)) · Unlawful disclosure of sealed record information by licensing/employment entity employee: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 943.059(6)(d))
What are the penalties for court-ordered sealing of criminal history records in Florida?
Penalties for court-ordered sealing of criminal history records in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree up to a Felony of the Third Degree — with the ranges set by Fla. Stat. § 775.082; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Florida statute covers court-ordered sealing of criminal history records?
Court-ordered sealing of criminal history records is governed by Fla. Stat. § 943.059 (Court-ordered sealing of criminal history records).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.