Florida statute
Fla. Stat. § 776.09 — Retention of records pertaining to persons found to be acting in lawful self-defense; expunction of criminal history records
Current through 2025 Florida Statutes
Part of Chapter 776: Justifiable Use of Force, Florida Statutes.
Full text of Fla. Stat. § 776.09
Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.
(1) Whenever the state attorney or statewide prosecutor dismisses an information, indictment, or other charging document, or decides not to file an information, indictment, or other charging document because of a finding that the person accused acted in lawful self-defense pursuant to the provisions related to the justifiable use of force in this chapter, that finding shall be documented in writing and retained in the files of the state attorney or statewide prosecutor.
(2) Whenever a court dismisses an information, indictment, or other charging document because of a finding that the person accused acted in lawful self-defense pursuant to the provisions related to the justifiable use of force in this chapter, that finding shall be recorded in an order or memorandum, which shall be retained in the court’s records.
(3) Under either condition described in subsection (1) or subsection (2), the person accused may apply for a certificate of eligibility to expunge the associated criminal history record, pursuant to s. 943.0578, notwithstanding the eligibility requirements prescribed in s. 943.0585(1) or (2).
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