Crim Pro Flashcards
Probable cause exists for
an arrest warrant
issue an arrest warrant when:
1) law enforcement knows of
2) sufficient facts and
3) circumstances
4) to cause a reasonably cautious person
5) to believe that the person accused committed an offense
6) within the issuing judge’s jurisdiction
An officer making an arrest with a warrant must :
1) inform the arrestee of the reasons for the arrest
and
2) that a warrant has been issued
UNLESS the arrestee first flees or forcibly resists.
An arrest warrant must :
- be in writing
- signed by the judge
- state the name of “State of Florida
- set forth the nature of the offense
- the name of the person to be arrested
- a picture if possible
- the date issued
- county where issued
- amount of bail
- the return date
A police officer has a right to arrest without a warrant if
- the person has committed
* a felony, misdemanor, OR violated municipal/county ordinance - the police officer has probable cause
- to believe that a person has committed a criminal act specified by STATUTE
- such as child abuse, domestic violence, or criminal racing.
When making a warrantless arrest, a PO must :
INFORM the arrested party of
- the officer’s AUTHORITY and
- REASON for the arrest
UNLESS the person first flees or forcibly resists.
Will a person be released due to a defect in form of the warrant?
NO
A lawful search warrant may be issued by :
any judge having JURISDICTION where the place, vehicle, or thing to be searched is located. Fla. Stat. § 933.01.
A judge may sign a search warrant electronically. Fla. Stat. § 933.07.
A search warrant may be issued if :
the property
- is stolen,
- is embezzled,
- is used to commit any crime,
- constitutes evidence of a felony, or
- is otherwise possessed in violation of law.
All search warrants must :
- be based on probable cause and
- supported by affidavits naming or describing
- the person, place, or thing to be searched AND
- must particularly describe the property to be seized.
All search warrants MUST be returned within TEN (10) days after issuance. Fla. Stat. § 933.05.
All pretrial motions must
- be in writing
- signed by the moving party or the moving party’s attorney
- contain the attorney’s or party’s address, phone number, primary and secondary e-mail addresses, and current Florida Bar registration number.
- must state the grounds for the basis of the motion,
- a copy must be served on the adverse party
all response pleadings must :
A pretrial motion to dismiss must :
- raise all available defenses.
- Every ground for a motion to dismiss that is not presented in the motion is waived.
- objections based on fundamental grounds are NOT WAIVED
A defendant must file a motion to dismiss :
either
- before the arraignment
- or at the arraignment
unless the court in its discretion permits the defendant additional time to so file.
The court may entertain a motion to dismiss at any time on the grounds that :
- The defendant is charged for an offense for which he has been previously pardoned, placed in jeopardy, or granted immunity;
or
- There are no material disputed facts, and the undisputed facts do not establish a prima facie case of guilt.
The State MAY file a traverse or demur to a motion to dismiss that :
alleges factual matters
A traverse is :
a pleading that denies a material fact in the opposing party’s pleading or that presents additional facts that establish a prima facie case.
All factual matters that are not denied in the traverse :
are deemed admitted
If the State files a traverse that denies the alleged facts, then a MTD for lack of factual matters :
A motion to dismiss for lack of factual matters must be denied
A demurrer does not :
DOES NOT challenge the material facts alleged by the defendant,
BUT IT DOES aver that those facts establish a prima facie case.
When may the State or defendant file a motion for a continuance?
- before the matter is set for trial
- at the time that the matter is set for trial
unless good cause for failure to do so is otherwise shown.
- A motion for continuance must be accompanied by:
- The court has discretion to grant or deny the motion:
- a certificate of good faith and may include supporting affidavits.
- The court has discretion to grant or deny the motion based on good cause shown.
If a continuance is granted to one or more of several defendants, then…
the court MAY proceed with the trial of the defendants who have not been granted a continuance.
Fla. Stat. § 918.016.
A defendant subject to an unlawful search and seizure may file a motion to suppress anything seized as evidence on the following grounds:
i) The property was illegally seized without a warrant;
ii) The warrant was insufficient;
iii) The seized property was not described in the warrant;
iv) There was no probable cause for the grounds on which the warrant was issued; or
v) The warrant was illegally executed.
A Motion to Suppress evidence in an unlawful search must :
- state the evidence to be suppressed
- state the reasons for suppression,
- it must include a general statement of the facts that constitute the basis for the motion
A Motion to Suppress evidence in an unlawful search must be made :
before trial
UNLESS
- the opportunity to do so did not exist or
- the defendant was not aware of the grounds for the motion.
If a motion to supress evidence in an unlawful search is deemed legally sufficient by the court, then…
a hearing on the motion will be set.
Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.190(g).
May a defendant file an interlocutory appeal on an order to supress evidence?
NO
An order to suppress evidence is NOT a non-final order that the district courts of appeal may review by interlocutory appeal as provided by rules adopted by the Florida Supreme Court.
See State v. M.G., 550 So. 2d 1122 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1989).
A Motion to Supress a Confession or admission illegally obtained must
- identify the statement to be suppressed and
- state the reasons for suppression,
- it must include a general statement of facts that constitute the basis for the motion
A Motion to Supress a Confession or admission illegally obtained must be made :
before trial
UNLESS
- the opportunity to do so did not exist or
- the defendant was not aware of the grounds for the motion
For a motion to supress a confession or admission illegally obtained, the court MUST :
- have a hearing
- receive evidence on any issue of fact necessary to rule on the motion.
Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.190(h).
A deposition to perpetuate testimony may be recorded in advance on the motion of either side if:
A motion to take a deposition to perpetuate testimony generally must be filed :
A motion to take a deposition to perpetuate testimony generally must be
filed more than TEN (10) days before trial.
Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.190(i).
In general, a criminal prosecution must be tried in the county :
where the offense was committed
the state or the defendant may move for a change of venue :
- IF filed not less than TEN (10) days before trial
AND
- On the grounds that
- a fair and impartial trial cannot be had in the county where the case is pending
- For a reason OTHER THAN because of the interest and prejudice of the trial judge.
A motion for change of venue must :
- be in writing
- accompanied by the affidavits of the movant
- accompanied by the affidavits two or more persons
- the affidavits must set forth the facts on which the motion is based
- accompanied by a certificate by the movant’s counsel that the motion is made in good faith.
If there are several defendants and an order is made removing the case on the application of one or more but not all of the defendants, then the defendants not removed…
- must be tried in the county in which the cause is pending
- all proceedings had against them in the county in which the cause is pending in all respects as if no order of removal had been made as to any defendant. Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.240.
Every person charged with a crime must generally be brought to trial within :
- MISDEMEANOR - within 90 days of arrest for a misdemeanor
- FELONY - within 175 days of arrest for a felony.
If charged with a crime by indictment or information, the defendant may demand a trial :
- within 60 days
- by filing a separate pleading entitled “Demand for Speedy Trial” with the court
- and serving a copy on the prosecuting authority.