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Florida Statute 843.04 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 843.04 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 843.04 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
843.04 Refusing to assist prison officers in arresting escaped convicts.—
(1) All prison officers and correctional officers shall immediately arrest any convict, held under the provisions of law, who may have escaped. Any such officer or guard may call upon the sheriff or other officer of the state, or of any county or municipal corporation, or any citizen, to make search and arrest such convict.
(2) Any officer or citizen refusing to assist shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 17, ch. 6530, 1917; RGS 5389; CGL 7528; s. 1037, ch. 71-136; s. 8, ch. 95-283.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 843.04

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§843.04REFUSING TO AID OFFICERASSIST PRISON OFFICERM · 1st

Cases Citing F.S. 843.04

Fla. Stat. § 843.04 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
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·United States v. Frederick M. Blanton, 730 F.2d 1425 (11th Cir. 1984).

Cited 22 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 15 Fed. R. Serv. 1133, 1984 U.S. App. LEXIS 23054

§§ 842 3 and *1430 § 843 4 . To support this argument, defendant cites
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Cited as authority(citing case) (2014)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (1993)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityLong (1989)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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·Nicor Int'l Corp. v. El Paso Corp., 318 F. Supp. 2d 1160 (S.D. Fla. 2004).

Cited 4 times | Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9674

...(resisting officer without violence); § 843.021, Fla. Stat. (unlawful possession of a concealed handcuff key); § 843.025, Fla. Stat. (depriving officer of a means of protection or communication); § 843.03, Fla. Stat. (obstruction by disguised person); § 843.04, Fla....
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Cited as authorityPERLMAN (2024)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityLawrence (2009)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityIn Re Sinaltrainal Litigation (2006)
phrase: "rule_authority"
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Perry v. State, 422 So. 2d 957 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

...A court must balance the "intrusion on the individual's Fourth Amendment interests against [a particular law enforcement practice in] promotion of legitimate governmental interests." Delaware v. Prouse, supra, at 654, 99 S.Ct. at 1396. The state's interest in recapturing felony escapees is substantial. See, e.g., § 843.04, Fla....

This Florida statute resource is curated by this site's author, a Jacksonville, Florida criminal defense attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 843 matters in the context of obstruction and resisting charges and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.