Florida criminal charge
Tampering with or harassing a court official in Florida
Tampering with or harassing a court official is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 918.12. 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. § 918.12.
How is tampering with or harassing a court official classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampering with a court official — indeterminable offense level | Felony of the Third Degree | The offense level of the affected official investigation or official proceeding is indeterminable. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)1. |
| Tampering with a court official — misdemeanor/noncriminal county court matter | Felony of the Third Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a misdemeanor or noncriminal matter pending in county court. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)2. |
| Tampering with a court official — third-degree felony or circuit court noncriminal matter | Felony of the Second Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a felony of the third degree or a noncriminal matter pending in circuit court. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)3. |
| Tampering with a court official — second-degree felony | Felony of the First Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a felony of the second degree. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)4. |
| Tampering with a court official — first-degree felony (including life-term) | Felony of the First Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a felony of the first degree or a felony of the first degree punishable by a term of years not exceeding life, punishable by a term of years not exceeding life. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)5. |
| Tampering with a court official — life or capital felony | Life Felony | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a life or capital felony. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)6. |
| Harassing a court official — misdemeanor/noncriminal county court matter | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a misdemeanor or noncriminal matter pending in county court. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)1. |
| Harassing a court official — indeterminable offense level | Felony of the Third Degree | The offense level of the affected official investigation or official proceeding is indeterminable. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)2. |
| Harassing a court official — third-degree felony or circuit court noncriminal matter | Felony of the Third Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a felony of the third degree or any noncriminal matter pending in circuit court. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)3. |
| Harassing a court official — second-degree felony | Felony of the Second Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a felony of the second degree. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)4. |
| Harassing a court official — first-degree felony | Felony of the First Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a felony of the first degree. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)5. |
| Harassing a court official — first-degree felony punishable by life or life/capital felony | Felony of the First Degree | The affected official investigation or official proceeding involves a felony of the first degree punishable by a term of years not exceeding life, or a prosecution of a life or capital felony, punishable by a term of years not exceeding life. | Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)6. |
Common questions about tampering with or harassing a court official in Florida
Is tampering with or harassing a court official a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: tampering with or harassing a court official ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Life Felony in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 918.12.
Tampering with a court official — indeterminable offense level: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)1.) · Tampering with a court official — misdemeanor/noncriminal county court matter: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)2.) · Tampering with a court official — third-degree felony or circuit court noncriminal matter: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)3.) · Tampering with a court official — second-degree felony: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)4.) · Tampering with a court official — first-degree felony (including life-term): Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)5.) · Tampering with a court official — life or capital felony: Life Felony (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)6.) · Harassing a court official — misdemeanor/noncriminal county court matter: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)1.) · Harassing a court official — indeterminable offense level: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)2.) · Harassing a court official — third-degree felony or circuit court noncriminal matter: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)3.) · Harassing a court official — second-degree felony: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)4.) · Harassing a court official — first-degree felony: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)5.) · Harassing a court official — first-degree felony punishable by life or life/capital felony: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)6.)
Which Florida statute covers tampering with or harassing a court official?
Tampering with or harassing a court official is governed by Fla. Stat. § 918.12 (Tampering with or harassing a court official).
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.