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Florida criminal charge

Permitting inmates to escape in Florida

Felony of the Third DegreeCurrent through 2026 Florida legislative session

Permitting inmates to escape is a Felony of the Third Degree under Florida criminal law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 944.36. As a Felony of the Third Degree, it is punishable within the statutory sentencing range Florida sets for that offense class. Florida sorts criminal offenses into felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses, each carrying its own penalty range.

Defined by Fla. Stat. § 944.36.

What is the penalty for permitting inmates to escape in Florida?

Penalties for Permitting inmates to escape
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 5 years (no statutory minimum)discretionaryFla. Stat. § 775.082
Fineup to $5,000 (or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g)))discretionaryFla. Stat. § 775.082

Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).

Common questions about permitting inmates to escape in Florida

Is permitting inmates to escape a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

Permitting inmates to escape is a Felony of the Third Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 944.36.

What are the penalties for permitting inmates to escape in Florida?

As a Felony of the Third Degree, permitting inmates to escape carries up to 5 years (statutory maximum; the Criminal Punishment Code scoresheet (s. 921.0024) sets the lowest permissible sentence) of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (statutory ceiling under s. 775.083; the alternatives in s. 775.083(1)(f)-(g) may exceed it) under Fla. Stat. § 775.082 (current (2025 Florida Statutes)).

Which Florida statute covers permitting inmates to escape?

Permitting inmates to escape is governed by Fla. Stat. § 944.36 (Permitting inmates to escape).

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.