From our attorneys
What counts as a violation of probation in Florida, what the judge can do, why VOP hearings have different rules than a new charge, and the technical-violation off-ramps in § 948.06.
Pending criminal charges mean a case is open but not resolved — and in Florida, an arrest is not the same as a formal charge. The State Attorney decides whether to file, strict deadlines govern how long that decision can take, and the speedy trial clock now starts when formal charges are filed. The full timeline, stage by stage.
In Florida, only the State Attorney can drop a criminal charge and only a judge can dismiss one — but there are established paths that push a case toward that result: the filing decision, pretrial diversion under § 948.08, motions to dismiss, self-defense immunity, and speedy trial. How each one works and what to avoid while a case is pending.
A no-contact order in a Florida criminal case can only be changed by the judge — not by the alleged victim, and not by private agreement. What the order prohibits, how to ask the court to modify it, and how it differs from a civil injunction.
Why the State Attorney — not the alleged victim — controls criminal charges in Florida, what a victim's wishes can actually change, and what both sides should avoid while a case is pending.