Florida criminal charge
False reports to law enforcement authorities in Florida
False reports to law enforcement authorities is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 837.05. 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. § 837.05.
What is the penalty for false reports to law enforcement authorities in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (False report to law enforcement — first offense — A person knowingly gives false information to a law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of any crime, absent the prior-conviction circumstances of paragraph (b) or the capital felony circumstance of subsection (2).; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (False report to law enforcement — first offense — A person knowingly gives false information to a law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of any crime, absent the prior-conviction circumstances of paragraph (b) or the capital felony circumstance of subsection (2).; 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 to law enforcement — repeat offense with corroboration or written statement — The person has a prior conviction under paragraph (a) and the false information was either orally given and corroborated by recording, written/recorded statement, or witness, or was communicated in writing.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (False report to law enforcement — repeat offense with corroboration or written statement — The person has a prior conviction under paragraph (a) and the false information was either orally given and corroborated by recording, written/recorded statement, or witness, or was communicated in writing.; 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 concerning a capital felony — A person knowingly gives false information to a law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of a capital felony.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (False report concerning a capital felony — A person knowingly gives false information to a law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of a capital felony.; 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 to law enforcement authorities classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False report to law enforcement — first offense | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | A person knowingly gives false information to a law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of any crime, absent the prior-conviction circumstances of paragraph (b) or the capital felony circumstance of subsection (2). | Fla. Stat. § 837.05(1)(a) |
| False report to law enforcement — repeat offense with corroboration or written statement | Felony of the Third Degree | The person has a prior conviction under paragraph (a) and the false information was either orally given and corroborated by recording, written/recorded statement, or witness, or was communicated in writing. | Fla. Stat. § 837.05(1)(b) |
| False report concerning a capital felony | Felony of the Third Degree | A person knowingly gives false information to a law enforcement officer concerning the alleged commission of a capital felony. | Fla. Stat. § 837.05(2) |
Common questions about false reports to law enforcement authorities in Florida
Is false reports to law enforcement authorities a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: false reports to law enforcement authorities ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Felony of the Third Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 837.05.
False report to law enforcement — first offense: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 837.05(1)(a)) · False report to law enforcement — repeat offense with corroboration or written statement: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 837.05(1)(b)) · False report concerning a capital felony: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 837.05(2))
What are the penalties for false reports to law enforcement authorities in Florida?
Penalties for false reports to law enforcement authorities 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 false reports to law enforcement authorities?
False reports to law enforcement authorities is governed by Fla. Stat. § 837.05 (False reports to law enforcement authorities).
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.