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Florida criminal charge

Refusal to receive prisoner in Florida

Misdemeanor of the First DegreeCurrent through 2026 Florida legislative session

Refusal to receive prisoner is a Misdemeanor of the First Degree under Florida criminal law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 839.21. As a Misdemeanor of the First 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. § 839.21.

What is the penalty for refusal to receive prisoner in Florida?

Penalties for Refusal to receive prisoner
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 1 year (county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2)))discretionaryFla. Stat. § 775.082
Fineup to $1,000 (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 refusal to receive prisoner in Florida

Is refusal to receive prisoner a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

Refusal to receive prisoner is a Misdemeanor of the First Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 839.21.

What are the penalties for refusal to receive prisoner in Florida?

As a Misdemeanor of the First Degree, refusal to receive prisoner carries up to 1 year (statutory maximum; the Criminal Punishment Code scoresheet (s. 921.0024) sets the lowest permissible sentence) of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000 (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 refusal to receive prisoner?

Refusal to receive prisoner is governed by Fla. Stat. § 839.21 (Refusal to receive prisoner).

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.