Florida Statute 843.15 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 843
OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE

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F.S. 843.15

843.15 Failure of defendant on bail to appear.—

(1) Whoever, having been released pursuant to chapter 903, willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required shall incur a forfeiture of any security which was given or pledged for her or his release and, in addition, shall:

(a) If she or he was released in connection with a charge of felony or while awaiting sentence or pending review by certiorari after conviction of any offense, be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, or;

(b) If she or he was released in connection with a charge of misdemeanor, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) Nothing in this section shall interfere with or prevent the exercise by any court of its power to punish for contempt.

History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 8468, 1921; CGL 7545, 7546; s. 1, ch. 69-152; s. 1048, ch. 71-136; s. 1345, ch. 97-102.

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Amendments to 843.15

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 843.15

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S843.15 1a - FAILURE TO APPEAR - - F: T

S843.15 1b - FAILURE TO APPEAR - - M: F

Cases Citing Statute 843.15

Total Results: 52

Williams v. State

500 So. 2d 501, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 1

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 24, 1986 | Docket: 1295199

Cited 73 times | Published

case is itself a criminal offense violating section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1985),[1] and specifically

Johnson v. State

501 So. 2d 158, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 371

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 23, 1987 | Docket: 1527703

Cited 26 times | Published

it is free to prosecute the defendant under Section 843.15(1)(a), Florida Statutes (1985), for his failure

Hoag v. State

511 So. 2d 401, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 1837

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 30, 1987 | Docket: 1700747

Cited 18 times | Published

was later convicted twice for violation of section 843.15(1)(a), Florida Statutes, which made it an offense

State v. Gurican

576 So. 2d 709, 1991 WL 35020

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Mar 14, 1991 | Docket: 1242578

Cited 14 times | Published

concurrent with her sentence for drug trafficking. See § 843.15(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1987). [2] Both the district

State v. Gurican

576 So. 2d 709, 1991 WL 35020

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Mar 14, 1991 | Docket: 1242578

Cited 14 times | Published

concurrent with her sentence for drug trafficking. See § 843.15(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1987). [2] Both the district

Miles v. State

418 So. 2d 1070

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 4, 1982 | Docket: 1685914

Cited 13 times | Published

I CHARGE: FAILURE TO APPEAR, in Violation of F.S. 843.15(1)(a) SPECIFICATIONS OF CHARGE: In that STANLEY

Griffis v. State

759 So. 2d 668, 2000 WL 633017

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 18, 2000 | Docket: 1736344

Cited 11 times | Published

[8] See § 944.40, Fla. Stat. (1997). [9] See § 843.15, Fla. Stat. (1997). [10] See §§ 38.22, 900.04

Watkins v. State

516 So. 2d 1043, 1987 WL 2666

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 15, 1987 | Docket: 1678035

Cited 11 times | Published

appear for jury trial proceedings contrary to section 843.15, Florida Statutes. As mentioned earlier, appellant's

McGee v. State

438 So. 2d 127

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 19, 1983 | Docket: 1731865

Cited 11 times | Published

seven counts of bail bond jumping in violation of § 843.15, Florida Statutes (1981), by willfully failing

Wilson v. State

776 So. 2d 347, 2001 WL 60814

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 26, 2001 | Docket: 421700

Cited 9 times | Published

the "willfulness" of Wilson's failure to appear. § 843.15, Fla. Stat.; Rahmings v. State, 660 So.2d 1390

Jaffe v. State

438 So. 2d 72

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 2, 1983 | Docket: 1446457

Cited 9 times | Published

also for failure to appear in violation of section 843.15(1)(b), Florida Statutes (1981), and appeals

Jones v. State

806 So. 2d 590, 2002 WL 126052

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 1, 2002 | Docket: 1712983

Cited 8 times | Published

§ 812.014(1) & (2)(d), Fla. Stat. (1996). [4] § 843.15(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1996). [5] Our case number

Knight v. State

455 So. 2d 457

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 10, 1984 | Docket: 1316815

Cited 8 times | Published

charge him with failure to appear pursuant to Section 843.15(1)(a), Florida Statutes (1983). The law clearly

Wood v. State

357 So. 2d 1060

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 21, 1978 | Docket: 453859

Cited 8 times | Published

very case, after having been admitted to bail. Section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1977). We find that the

State Ex Rel. Boyles v. PAROLE & PROB. COM'N

436 So. 2d 207

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 8, 1983 | Docket: 1340275

Cited 7 times | Published

a third degree felony, and one violation of section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1981) (failure of defendant

Jaffe v. Snow

610 So. 2d 482, 1992 WL 332658

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 13, 1992 | Docket: 1734820

Cited 6 times | Published

filed a criminal charge of Failure to Appear, section 843.15(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1979). A violation of this

DeGeso v. State

771 So. 2d 1264, 2000 WL 1700185

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 15, 2000 | Docket: 1338916

Cited 5 times | Published

(1995); and failure to appear in violation of section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1995). He raises nine issues

Nicor International Corp. v. El Paso Corp.

318 F. Supp. 2d 1160, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9674

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: May 25, 2004 | Docket: 2339650

Cited 4 times | Published

juveniles); § 843.14, Fla. Stat. (compounding felony); § 843.15, Fla. Stat. (failure of defendant on bail to appear);

Pumphrey v. State

527 So. 2d 1382, 1988 WL 73561

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jul 14, 1988 | Docket: 529530

Cited 4 times | Published

pretrial release, which is punishable under section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1985). The conviction and

Harms v. State

454 So. 2d 689

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 6, 1984 | Docket: 444582

Cited 4 times | Published

be subject to independent statutory penalty. § 843.15, Florida Statutes. We are not here concerned with

In re Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report No. 2012-05

131 So. 3d 755, 2013 WL 6305187

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 5, 2013 | Docket: 60238162

Cited 3 times | Published

[95 So.3d 868] and 2013. 29.18 FAILURE TO APPEAR § 843.15, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Failure to Appear

Rahmings v. State

660 So. 2d 1390, 1995 WL 582277

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 5, 1995 | Docket: 1755927

Cited 3 times | Published

separate criminal offense punishable under section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1985), by up to five years'

Cambrick v. State

593 So. 2d 613, 1992 WL 25989

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 14, 1992 | Docket: 1508931

Cited 3 times | Published

faced an additional felony charge pursuant to section 843.15(1)(a), Florida Statutes (1989). This case too

Bankston v. State

279 So. 2d 326

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 25, 1973 | Docket: 425527

Cited 3 times | Published

Appellant contends that a conviction under F.S. § 843.15 F.S.A. may not be sustained in the absence of

State v. Mehl

602 So. 2d 1383, 1992 WL 200360

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 21, 1992 | Docket: 2532416

Cited 2 times | Published

injury. [3] § 316.193, Fla. Stat. (1989). [4] § 843.15(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1991). [5] § 316.192, Fla

Brugmann v. State

117 So. 3d 39, 2013 WL 2494244, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 9297

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 12, 2013 | Docket: 60232659

Cited 1 times | Published

a defendant on bond to appear, pursuant to section 843.15(1)(a), Florida Statutes; and (2) escape, pursuant

Giordano v. State

32 So. 3d 96, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 12657, 2009 WL 2634083

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 28, 2009 | Docket: 1663006

Cited 1 times | Published

the State chose not to proceed pursuant to section 843.15(1), Florida Statutes (2005), which provides

Taylor v. State

752 So. 2d 85, 2000 WL 220437

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 28, 2000 | Docket: 1279839

Cited 1 times | Published

appear may constitute a crime in and of itself. See § 843.15(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1997). The state had the option

Deon Jones v. State of Florida

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 16, 2024 | Docket: 68939975

Published

ought to be lowered, but it bears noting that section 843.15, Florida Statutes, which provides for criminal

Andrew A. Rodriguez v. State

224 So. 3d 811, 2017 WL 3318009, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 11282

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 4, 2017 | Docket: 6136509

Published

pretrial release, which is punishable under section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1985).[ 1 ]

Sloppy v. State

208 So. 3d 313, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 19146

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 28, 2016 | Docket: 4559231

Published

maximum. Failure to appear is a third-degree felony, § 843.15(l)(a), Fla. Stat. (2014), punishable by up to

David Leon Lashley v. State of Florida

194 So. 3d 1084, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 9901

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 28, 2016 | Docket: 3090224

Published

0135(4)(a); and- failure to appear, ■ contrary to ■ section 843.15(l)(a). Appellant challenges .his convictions

Corrales v. State

84 So. 3d 406, 2012 WL 1033664, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 4922

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 29, 2012 | Docket: 2533258

Published

any court . . . as required," in violation of section 843.15(1)(a), Florida Statutes (2009). He contends

Williams v. State

876 So. 2d 27, 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 6801, 2004 WL 1091306

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 18, 2004 | Docket: 64831223

Published

conviction and sentence for failure to appear under section 843.15(l)(a), Fla. Stat. (2003). The state properly

English v. State

667 So. 2d 506, 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 1005, 1996 WL 50870

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 9, 1996 | Docket: 64762031

Published

subsection, section 843.15(l)(b), Florida Statutes, not the felony subsection, section 843.15(l)(a), Florida

Schuhart v. State

647 So. 2d 1049, 1994 Fla. App. LEXIS 12454, 1994 WL 708171

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 22, 1994 | Docket: 64753071

Published

(1987). . § 812.014(2)(c), Fla.Stat. (1987). . § 843.15(l)(a), Fla.Stat. (1987). . §§ 941.45-941.50

Pigue v. State

567 So. 2d 530, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 7309, 1990 WL 139629

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 27, 1990 | Docket: 64653387

Published

whether pleas or trials occurred in the cases. Section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1987), prescribes penalties

Belcher v. State

559 So. 2d 448, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 2426, 1990 WL 41680

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 12, 1990 | Docket: 64649558

Published

resentencing. GOSHORN and PETERSON, JJ., concur. . § 843.15(l)(b), Fla.Stat. (1987).

Daies v. State

549 So. 2d 1180, 14 Fla. L. Weekly 2384, 1989 Fla. App. LEXIS 5788, 1989 WL 120472

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 11, 1989 | Docket: 64645411

Published

conviction and sentence of the appellant under Section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1987), for failure to appear

Johnson v. State

530 So. 2d 1036, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 2036, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 3947, 1988 WL 91211

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 1, 1988 | Docket: 64636925

Published

AFFIRMED. ERVIN and.JOANOS, JJ., concur. . Section 843.15(l)(a), Florida Statutes (1987) provides in

Santamaria v. State

528 So. 2d 941, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 1613, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 2980, 1988 WL 70763

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 12, 1988 | Docket: 64636134

Published

additional charges, § 843.15(1)(a), Fla.Stat. (1983), or to a citation for contempt. § 843.15(2), Fla.Stat.

Patterson v. State

512 So. 2d 1109, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 2257, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 10318

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 17, 1987 | Docket: 64629621

Published

circuit court in Gainesville in violation of Section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1985). At trial, the state

Pumphrey v. State

512 So. 2d 1018, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 2095, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 10068

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 1, 1987 | Docket: 64629595

Published

“failure to appear” under Section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1985). Section 843.15, by its terms, applies

Godwin v. State

501 So. 2d 154, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 314, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 6462

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 23, 1987 | Docket: 64624414

Published

prosecuted for failure to appear, a felony under Section 843.15(1)(a), Florida *156Statutes, if the state could

Hooks v. State

498 So. 2d 586, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 2566, 1986 Fla. App. LEXIS 11203

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 3, 1986 | Docket: 64623484

Published

crime of failure to appear, a violation of section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1983), was committed on

McGarry v. State

496 So. 2d 138, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 571, 1986 Fla. LEXIS 2781

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 30, 1986 | Docket: 64622336

Published

a criminal case is itself a criminal offense. § 843.15, Fla.Stat. (1983). When this offense is committed

McGarry v. State

471 So. 2d 615, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 1526, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 14791

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 19, 1985 | Docket: 64612745

Published

ordinarily be punishable by a maximum of 5 years. See § 843.15, Fla. Stat. (1983). Hence, according to appellant

Howard v. State

457 So. 2d 1153, 9 Fla. L. Weekly 2248, 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 15603

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 24, 1984 | Docket: 64607536

Published

charge of failure to appear, a violation of section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1979). We affirm. The incident

Perkins v. State

438 So. 2d 873, 1983 Fla. App. LEXIS 21629

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 12, 1983 | Docket: 64599975

Published

guilty of “bail bond jumping” in violation of section 843.15, Florida Statutes, and sentencing him to prison

Jackson v. State

416 So. 2d 853, 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 20461

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 8, 1982 | Docket: 64591144

Published

plea of guilty to failure to appear, contrary to § 843.15, Fla. Stat. (1981). During the sentencing hearing

King v. State

401 So. 2d 931, 1981 Fla. App. LEXIS 20776

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 29, 1981 | Docket: 64584179

Published

to appear before the court, in violation of Section 843.15, Florida Statutes (1979). A motion was filed

Wood v. State

354 So. 2d 134, 1978 Fla. App. LEXIS 15085

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 25, 1978 | Docket: 64562393

Published

appear for trial on felony charges contrary to Section 843.15(l)(b), Florida Statutes (1975). Wood pled guilty