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Florida Statute 961.02 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 961.02 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 961.02 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
961.02 Definitions.As used in ss. 961.01-961.07, the term:
(1) “Act” means the Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act.
(2) “Department” means the Department of Legal Affairs.
(3) “Division” means the Division of Administrative Hearings.
(4) “Eligible for compensation” means that a person meets the definition of the term “wrongfully incarcerated person” and is not disqualified from seeking compensation under the criteria prescribed in s. 961.04.
(5) “Entitled to compensation” means that a person meets the definition of the term “eligible for compensation” and satisfies the application requirements prescribed in s. 961.05, and may receive compensation pursuant to s. 961.06.
(6) “Wrongfully incarcerated person” means a person whose felony conviction and sentence have been vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction and who is the subject of an order issued by the original sentencing court pursuant to s. 961.03 finding that the person did not commit the act or offense that served as the basis for the conviction and incarceration and that the person did not aid, abet, or act as an accomplice or accessory to a person who committed the act or offense.
History.s. 2, ch. 2008-39; s. 1, ch. 2017-120; s. 1, ch. 2025-194.

Cases Citing F.S. 961.02

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·Fessenden v. State, 52 So. 3d 1 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 16342, 2010 WL 4260952

...arranges any compensation awarded under the Act. § 961.06(3), (4). Before a person can apply to the Department for compensation, the person must first obtain a determination that he or she is a "wrongfully incarcerated person" under the statute. §§ 961.02(4), .03....
...[3] Thus, the dispositive issue in this case is whether the reversal of Mr. Fessenden's judgments and convictions on appeal because the conduct proven at trial did not constitute the charged offense qualifies him as a "wrongfully incarcerated person." IV. The Definition of "Wrongfully Incarcerated Person" in Section 961.02(4) must Be Read in Conjunction with the Provisions in Section 961.03(1)(a). On initial examination, it does appear that Mr. Fessenden is arguably a "wrongfully incarcerated person" as that term is defined in section 961.02(4)....
...961.03, the original sentencing court has issued its order finding that the person neither committed the act nor the offense that served as *5 the basis for the conviction and incarceration and that the person did not aid, abet, or act as an accomplice or accessory to a person who committed the act or offense. § 961.02(4)....
...Fessenden, it would seem, does not fall cleanly into either the group of people who are "not guilty" or those who are "actually innocent." In this case, there is no question that Mr. Fessenden "committed the act" that "served as the basis for the conviction and incarceration." See § 961.02(4)....
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Cited as authority(citing case) (2017)
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Cited as authority(citing case) (2013)
phrase: "rule_authority"

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.