Florida Felony Classifications

Florida, like any state, has two criminal classifications: felony and misdemeanor. Felony bail bonds are typically higher in amount due to the more serious sentence impossed. A felony is a crime that is punishable by more than one year imprisonment in a state prison. Generally, should a crime require less than one year imprisonment, it will be classified as a misdemeanor. Some common felonies include: aggravated assault, aggravated battery, carjacking, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, sexual battery, stalking, grand theft.

Punishment for a felony can range between one year all the way up to a death sentence, depending on the felony and degree of the felony.

Florida has five degrees for felony offenses: Felony in the third degree, felony in the second degree, felony in the first degree, life felony and capital felony. A felony is classified based on the maximum penalty allowed by law should one be found guilty of the associated crime. As the felony penalty increase so does the bail bond amount associated with the charge.

Felony in the Second Degree

A felony in the second degree is punishable by no more than fifteen years imprisonment in a state prison and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars. Second degree felony bonds usually are set at $10,000 in Lake County FL for such crimes as burglary, sale of cocaine or any controlled substance, or aggravated battery.

Felony in the Third Degree

The bail bond associated with a third degree felony is usually set by the circuits bail schedule, and set at the amount of $2-5,000. The most common felony to be arrested on is this and crimes include possesion of a controlled substance, grand theft, felony domestic battery, and dwls habitual. A felony in the third degree is punishable by no more than five years imprisonment in a state prison and a fine of up to five thousand dollars. In addition, the defendant may also be ordered to pay the victim restitution as ordered by the court.