Florida Statute 944.47 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XLVII
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS

Chapter 944
STATE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM

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F.S. 944.47

944.47 Introduction, removal, or possession of contraband; penalty.—

(1)(a) Except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of the correctional institution, it is unlawful to introduce into or upon the grounds of any state correctional institution, or to take or attempt to take or send or attempt to send therefrom, any of the following articles which are hereby declared to be contraband for the purposes of this section, to wit:

1. Any written or recorded communication or any currency or coin given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

2. Any article of food or clothing given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

3. Any intoxicating beverage or beverage which causes or may cause an intoxicating effect.

4. Any controlled substance as defined in s. 893.02(4), marijuana as defined in s. 381.986, hemp as defined in s. 581.217, industrial hemp as defined in s. 1004.4473, or any prescription or nonprescription drug having a hypnotic, stimulating, or depressing effect.

5. Any firearm or weapon of any kind or any explosive substance.

6. Any cellular telephone or other portable communication device intentionally and unlawfully introduced inside the secure perimeter of any state correctional institution without prior authorization or consent from the officer in charge of such correctional institution. As used in this subparagraph, the term “portable communication device” means any device carried, worn, or stored which is designed or intended to receive or transmit verbal or written messages, access or store data, or connect electronically to the Internet or any other electronic device and which allows communications in any form. Such devices include, but are not limited to, portable two-way pagers, hand-held radios, cellular telephones, Blackberry-type devices, personal digital assistants or PDA’s, laptop computers, or any components of these devices which are intended to be used to assemble such devices. The term also includes any new technology that is developed for similar purposes. Excluded from this definition is any device having communication capabilities which has been approved or issued by the department for investigative or institutional security purposes or for conducting other state business.

7. Any vapor-generating electronic device as defined in s. 386.203, intentionally and unlawfully introduced inside the secure perimeter of any state correctional institution.

(b) It is unlawful to transmit or attempt to transmit to, or cause or attempt to cause to be transmitted to or received by, any inmate of any state correctional institution any article or thing declared by this subsection to be contraband, at any place which is outside the grounds of such institution, except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(c) It is unlawful for any inmate of any state correctional institution or any person while upon the grounds of any state correctional institution to be in actual or constructive possession of any article or thing declared by this section to be contraband, except as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(2)(a) A person who violates this section as it pertains to an article of contraband described in subparagraph (1)(a)1., subparagraph (1)(a)2., or subparagraph (1)(a)6. commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. A person who violates this section as it pertains to an article of contraband described in subparagraph (1)(a)7. commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Otherwise, a violation of this section is a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(b) A violation of this section by an employee, as defined in s. 944.115(2)(b), who uses or attempts to use the powers, rights, privileges, duties, or position of his or her employment in the commission of the violation is ranked one level above the ranking specified in s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023 for the offense committed.

History.—s. 7, ch. 57-313; s. 8, ch. 61-192; s. 1, ch. 65-225; s. 1, ch. 67-160; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1176, ch. 71-136; s. 60, ch. 77-120; s. 1, ch. 78-42; s. 70, ch. 79-3; s. 2, ch. 81-88; s. 1, ch. 82-124; s. 184, ch. 83-216; s. 1, ch. 84-1; s. 52, ch. 91-110; s. 4, ch. 2008-250; s. 31, ch. 2016-145; s. 55, ch. 2019-167; s. 2, ch. 2020-59; s. 20, ch. 2023-268.

F.S. 944.47 on Google Scholar

F.S. 944.47 on Casetext

Amendments to 944.47

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 944.47

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

S944.47 1a1 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - WRITTEN RECORD COMMUNICATION TO INMATE - F: T

S944.47 1a1 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - ANY CURRENCY OR COIN TO INMATE - F: T

S944.47 1a1 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE WRITTEN REC COMMUNICATION TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1a1 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE ANY CURRENCY OR COIN TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1a2 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - ARTICLES OF FOOD OR CLOTHING TO INMATE - F: T

S944.47 1a2 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE ARTICLE OF FOOD OR CLOTHING TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1a3 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - INTOXICATING BEVERAGE TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1a3 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE INTOXICATING BEVERAGE TO INMATE - F: F

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - MARIJUANA INTO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: S

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE MARIJUANA IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: F

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - HEMP INTO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: S

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE HEMP INTO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: F

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - INDUSTRIAL HEMP INTO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: S

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE INDUST HEMP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: F

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - HYPNOTIC STIMULANT DEPRESSANT DRUG CORR INSTIT - F: S

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMP HYPNOTIC STIMUL DEPRESSANT DRUG CORR INST - F: F

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - CONTROL SUBS DEFINED PROVISIONS OF s.893.02(4) - F: S

S944.47 1a4 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE CTRL SUBS DEFINED PROV OF s.893.02(4) - F: F

S944.47 1a5 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - ANY FIREARM WEAPON OR EXPLOSIVE - F: S

S944.47 1a5 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE ANY FIREARM WEAPON OR EXPLOSIVE - F: F

S944.47 1a6 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - CELLULAR PHONE PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - F: T

S944.47 1a6 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE CELL PHONE PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEV - F: S

S944.47 1a7 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - VAPOR-GENERATE ELEC DEV INTO CORRECTIONAL INST - M: F

S944.47 1a7 - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE VAPOR-GENERATING ELEC DEV CORR INST - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - REMOVED - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9565 - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT ANY CURRENCY OR COIN TO INMATE - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9566 - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT CURRENCY OR COIN TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9567 - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT WRITTEN RECS COMMUNICATION TO INMATE - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9568 - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT WRITTEN RECS COMM TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT ARTICLE OF FOOD OR CLOTHING TO INMATE - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT ARTICLE FOOD/CLOTH TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT INTOXICATING BEVERAGE TO INMATE - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT INTOXICATING BEV TO INMATE - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT CTRL SUB DEFINED PROVISIONS 893.02(4) - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANS CTRL SUB DEFINED PROV 893.02(4) - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT HEMP INTO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT HEMP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT INDUSTRIAL HEMP CORRECTIONS INSTITUTE - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT INDUS HEMP CORRECTION INSTIT - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT HYPNOTIC STIMULANT DEPRESSANT DRUG - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANS HYPNOTIC STIMULANT DEPRESS DRUG - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANS FIREARM/WEAPON/EXPLOSIVE CORRECTION INST - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT FIREARM/WEAPON/EXPLOSIVE - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT CELL PHONE/COMM DEV CORRECTIONAL INST - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANSMIT CELL PHONE/COMM DEV COR INST - F: S

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - TRANSMIT VAPOR-GENERATE ELEC DEV CORR INSTITUT - M: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - EMPLOYEE TRANS VAPOR-GENER ELEC DEV CORR INST - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - REMOVED - F: F

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8794 - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - REMOVED - F: T

S944.47 1b - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - REMOVED - F: S

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9569 - F: S

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - INMATE POSSESS CURRENCY/COIN CORRECTION INST - F: T

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9570 - F: F

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - EMPLOYEE POSSESS CURRENCY/COIN CORRECT INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9571 - F: S

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - POSSESS WRITTEN RECS COMMUNICATION CORR INST - F: T

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9572 - F: F

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - EMPLOYEE POSSESS WRITTEN RECS COMM CORR INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - POSSESS ARTICLE OF FOOD/CLOTHING CORR INST - F: T

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - EMPLOY POSSESS ARTICLE FOOD/CLOTHING CORR INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - LIQUOR-POSSESS - INMATE POSSESS INTOXICATING BEV CORR INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - LIQUOR-POSSESS - EMPLOYEE POSSESS INTOX BEVERAGE CORR INST - F: F

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - INMATE POSS CTRL SUB DEFINE 893.02(4) COR INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - EMPLOYEE POSS CTRL SUB DEF 893.02(4) CORR INST - F: F

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - INMATE POSSESS HEMP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: S

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - EMPLOYEE POSSESS HEMP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION - F: F

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - POSSESS INDUSTRIAL HEMP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE - F: S

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - EMPLOYEE POSSESS INDUSTRIAL HEMP CORR INSTITU - F: F

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - POSS DRUG HYPNOTIC STIMULANT DEPRESS CORR INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - DRUGS-POSSESS - EMP POSS HYPNOTIC STIMUL DEPRESS DRUG COR INST - F: F

S944.47 1c - POSSESSION OF WEAPON - POSSESS FIREARM/WEAPON/EXPLOSIVE CORR INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - POSSESSION OF WEAPON - EMP POSSESS FIREARM/WEAPON/EXPLOSIVE COR INST - F: F

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - POSSESS CELL PHONE/PORTABLE COMM DEV CORR INST - F: T

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - EMPLOYEE POSSESS CELL PHONE/COMM DEV CORR INST - F: S

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - POSSESS VAPOR-GENERATE ELEC DEVICE CORR INST - M: F

S944.47 1c - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - EMPLOYEE POSS VAPOR-GENERATE ELEC DEV COR INST - F: T

S944.47 1c - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - REMOVED - F: T

S944.47 1c - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - RENUMBERED. SEE REC #8795 - F: T

S944.47 1c - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND - REMOVED - F: S

S944.47 1c - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - REMOVED - F: S

S944.47 1c - SMUGGLE CONTRABAND INTO PRISON - REMOVED - F: F

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 944.47

Total Results: 20

Leo L. Boatman v. State of Florida

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2024-10-17

Snippet: Possession of a Weapon by a State Prisoner. See § 944.47(1)(c), Fla. Stat. (2019). captured on video—by

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2018-12.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2019-05-30

Citation: 272 So. 3d 243

Snippet: GROUNDS OF] A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION § 944.47(1)(c) Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Possession

Payton v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-01-29

Citation: 239 So. 3d 129

Snippet: question is de novo . Henry v. State , 134 So.3d 938, 944-47 (Fla. 2014). *132A. Section 90.804, Florida Statutes

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2016-09

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-04-27

Citation: 216 So. 3d 497

Snippet: GROUNDS OF] A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION § 944.47(i)(c) Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Possession

Allen v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-01-04

Citation: 211 So. 3d 48, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 84

Snippet: and the defendant’s sentence was reversed. Id. at 944-47. Thus, it is well-established that trial courts

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases - Report No. 2015-03 – Corrected Opinion

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-05-19

Snippet: CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION § 944.47(1)(c) Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Possession

In Re STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—REPORT NO. 2015-03

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-04-07

Citation: 191 So. 3d 291, 2016 WL 1375710

Snippet: GROUNDS OF] A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION § 944.47(l)(c) Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Possession

In Re STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—REPORT NO. 2013-05

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-12-11

Citation: 153 So. 3d 192, 2014 WL 6977938

Snippet: GROUNDS OF A STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION § 944.47(l)(c) Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Possession

Antonio R. Hernandez v. State of Florida

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-07-30

Citation: 141 So. 3d 1247

Snippet: state correctional facility in violation of section 944.47, Florida Statutes. The contraband possessed by

Bell v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-10-09

Citation: 122 So. 3d 958, 2013 WL 5539337, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 16012

Snippet: correctional institution. Id. at 814 (quoting § 944.47, Fla. Stat. (1981)). The First District held that

Terrien v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2012-08-01

Citation: 94 So. 3d 648, 2012 WL 3101325, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 12530

Snippet: correctional institution, in violation of section 944.47, Florida Statutes (2008). The information specifically

Francis v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2010-07-30

Citation: 41 So. 3d 975, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 11092, 2010 WL 2975404

Snippet: weapon or any kind of any explosive substance." § 944.47, Fla. Stat. (1981). The supreme court found that

Hall v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2008-10-01

Citation: 991 So. 2d 999, 2008 WL 4414323

Snippet: required for appellee. PER CURIAM. Affirmed. See § 944.47(1)(a)(4), Fla. Stat. (1997), and § 775.084(1)(a)3

Martinez v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2008-02-06

Citation: 976 So. 2d 68, 2008 WL 313924

Snippet: episode. §§ 784.021, .07, Fla. Stat. (1991); § 944.47(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1991). As no manifest injustice

Urquhart v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2007-10-19

Citation: 967 So. 2d 397, 2007 Fla. App. LEXIS 16468, 2007 WL 3033514

Snippet: introduce contraband is a third-degree felony. See §§ 944.47(2) & 777.04(4)(d), Fla. Stat. (1995) (providing

Johnson v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2004-05-12

Citation: 873 So. 2d 478, 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 6581, 2004 WL 1057817

Snippet: he was confined in a county jail. Under section 944.47, Florida Statutes (2002), possession of a controlled

Bautista v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2003-12-04

Citation: 863 So. 2d 1180, 2003 WL 22860461

Snippet: of any kind." 462 So.2d at 814 (quoting section 944.47, Florida Statutes (1981)).[3] In *1184 the Watts

Henry v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2003-10-22

Citation: 857 So. 2d 344, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 15800, 2003 WL 22398607

Snippet: facility, a second-degree felony under section 944.47(l)(a), Florida Statutes (1999), five years. All

Schrader v. Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2003-02-27

Citation: 840 So. 2d 1050, 28 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 178, 2003 Fla. LEXIS 261, 2003 WL 548361

Snippet: Inc. v. Fla. Keys Aqueduct Auth., 795 So.2d 940, 944-47 (Fla. 2001). After the series 2000 bonds were issued

Scott v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2002-01-03

Citation: 808 So. 2d 166, 2002 WL 5498

Snippet: contraband in a correctional facility (section 944.47, Florida Statutes (1995)) and the charged crimes