Florida criminal charge
False reports of commission of crimes; penalty in Florida
False reports of commission of crimes; penalty is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 817.49. 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. § 817.49.
What is the penalty for false reports of commission of crimes; penalty in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (False report of a crime (base offense) — A person willfully imparts or conveys false information or reports of an alleged crime to a law enforcement officer or public safety employee, knowing it false, when no such crime actually occurred, unless subsection (2) applies.; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (False report of a crime (base offense) — A person willfully imparts or conveys false information or reports of an alleged crime to a law enforcement officer or public safety employee, knowing it false, when no such crime actually occurred, unless subsection (2) applies.; 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 5 years (False report resulting in great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability — The willful false report results in a public safety agency response that proximately causes great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability to a person from lawful conduct arising out of the response.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (False report resulting in great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability — The willful false report results in a public safety agency response that proximately causes great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability to a person from lawful conduct arising out of the response.; 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 15 years (False report resulting in death — The willful false report results in a public safety agency response that proximately causes death to a person from lawful conduct arising out of the response.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (False report resulting in death — The willful false report results in a public safety agency response that proximately causes death to a person from lawful conduct arising out of the response.; 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 false reports of commission of crimes; penalty classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False report of a crime (base offense) | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | A person willfully imparts or conveys false information or reports of an alleged crime to a law enforcement officer or public safety employee, knowing it false, when no such crime actually occurred, unless subsection (2) applies. | Fla. Stat. § 817.49(1) |
| False report resulting in great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability | Felony of the Third Degree | The willful false report results in a public safety agency response that proximately causes great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability to a person from lawful conduct arising out of the response. | Fla. Stat. § 817.49(2)(b)1. |
| False report resulting in death | Felony of the Second Degree | The willful false report results in a public safety agency response that proximately causes death to a person from lawful conduct arising out of the response. | Fla. Stat. § 817.49(2)(b)2. |
Common questions about false reports of commission of crimes; penalty in Florida
Is false reports of commission of crimes; penalty a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: false reports of commission of crimes; penalty ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 817.49.
False report of a crime (base offense): Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.49(1)) · False report resulting in great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.49(2)(b)1.) · False report resulting in death: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.49(2)(b)2.)
What are the penalties for false reports of commission of crimes; penalty in Florida?
Penalties for false reports of commission of crimes; penalty in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree up to a Felony of the Second 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 false reports of commission of crimes; penalty?
False reports of commission of crimes; penalty is governed by Fla. Stat. § 817.49 (False reports of commission of crimes; penalty).
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.