Florida Statute 856.021 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 856
DRUNKENNESS; OPEN HOUSE PARTIES; LOITERING; PROWLING; DESERTION

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F.S. 856.021

856.021 Loitering or prowling; penalty.—

(1) It is unlawful for any person to loiter or prowl in a place, at a time or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals, under circumstances that warrant a justifiable and reasonable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity.

(2) Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm or immediate concern is warranted is the fact that the person takes flight upon appearance of a law enforcement officer, refuses to identify himself or herself, or manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or herself or any object. Unless flight by the person or other circumstance makes it impracticable, a law enforcement officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this section, afford the person an opportunity to dispel any alarm or immediate concern which would otherwise be warranted by requesting the person to identify himself or herself and explain his or her presence and conduct. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this section if the law enforcement officer did not comply with this procedure or if it appears at trial that the explanation given by the person is true and, if believed by the officer at the time, would have dispelled the alarm or immediate concern.

(3) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.—s. 1, ch. 72-133; s. 1384, ch. 97-102.

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F.S. 856.021 on Casetext

Amendments to 856.021

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 856.021

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

S856.021 - LOITERING - OR PROWLING - M: S

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 856.021

Total Results: 20

R.A., A JUVENILE v. THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2023-02-08

Snippet: loitering or prowling, 5 as defined in section 856.021, Florida Statutes: (1) It is unlawful for

LU JING v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2021-04-28

Snippet: during his investigatory stop pursuant to section 856.021(2), Florida Statutes, which required him to afford

D.M.B., A CHILD v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-07-11

Citation: 254 So. 3d 448

Snippet: petition with loitering or prowling under section 856.021, Florida Statutes (2016). In the affidavit of violation

I.G. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-04-18

Citation: 245 So. 3d 897

Snippet: probation for loitering and prowling, under sections 856.021 and 777.011, Florida Statutes (2016). We affirm

I.G. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-04-18

Snippet: probation for loitering and prowling, under sections 856.021 and 777.011, Florida Statutes (2016). We affirm

Adam Acevedo v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-07-08

Citation: 200 So. 3d 196, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 10461

Snippet: crime of loitering and prowling. Section 856.021, Florida Statutes (2014), provides: (1) It

D. J. E., A Child v. State of Florida

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-10-20

Citation: 178 So. 3d 78

Snippet: To prove loitering and prowling under section 856.021, Florida Statutes, the State must show: 1) the

Geoffrey Madge v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-03-04

Citation: 160 So. 3d 86, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 3019

Snippet: Florida’s loitering and prowling statute, section 856.021-, Florida Statutes (2012), 2 provides

Ellis v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-02-11

Citation: 157 So. 3d 467, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 1768, 2015 WL 574010

Snippet: The crime of loitering or prowling under section 856.021(1), Florida Statutes (2012), has the following

Perez-Tejon v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-10-01

Citation: 147 So. 3d 1094, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 15287, 2014 WL 4852882

Snippet: of an illegal search and seizure. Section 856.021 of the Florida Statutes (2007), the loitering or

J.S., a Child v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-09-10

Citation: 147 So. 3d 608, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 14005

Snippet: So.3d 101, 104 (Fla. 4th DCA 2013) (quoting § 856.021, Fla. Stat. (2011)). The first element is

McClamma v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-05-09

Citation: 138 So. 3d 578, 2014 WL 1871510, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 6939

Snippet: for person or property in the vicinity. See § 856.021, Fla. Stat. (2011). This conduct must occur in

R.R. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-04-09

Citation: 137 So. 3d 535, 2014 WL 1373814, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 5154

Snippet: safety of persons or property in the vicinity.” § 856.021(1), Fla. Stat. (2012). See also C.H.S. v. State

C.C. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-03-26

Citation: 137 So. 3d 466, 2014 WL 1225230, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 4358

Snippet: vicinity.’ ” E.F., 110 So.3d at 104 (quoting § 856.021, Fla. Stat. (2011)). Both elements of the offense

W.D. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-02-05

Citation: 132 So. 3d 871, 2014 WL 470893, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 1418

Snippet: So.3d at 1265; P.R., 97 So.3d at 982. Section 856.021, Florida Statutes (2010), defines loitering and

Wright v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-11-13

Citation: 126 So. 3d 420, 2013 WL 5989268, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 18004

Snippet: novo review of the issues of law. Id. Section 856.021(1), Florida Statutes (2009), makes it “unlawful

M.J. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-09-18

Citation: 121 So. 3d 1151, 2013 WL 5222391, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 14819

Snippet: arrest M.J. for loitering and prowling. Section 856.021, Florida Statutes (2012), provides: “It is unlawful

Jones v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-06-26

Citation: 117 So. 3d 818, 2013 WL 3197137, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 10066

Snippet: Carter, 835 So.2d 259, 262 (Fla.2002). Section 856.021(1), Florida Statutes (2010), makes it “unlawful

S.K.W. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-05-17

Citation: 112 So. 3d 775, 2013 WL 2120259, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 7962

Snippet: of probation for loitering or prowling. See § 856.021(1), Fla. Stat. (2011). Because the evidence is

E.F. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-03-20

Citation: 110 So. 3d 101, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 4416, 2013 WL 1136336

Snippet: elements of the crime as set forth in section 856.021, Florida Statutes (2011). The court denied that