Rule 3.850 for Post-Conviction Motions
The Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure provide a way for the person convicted of a crime to attempt to vacate the conviction through a Rule 3.850 Motion or a 3.800 Motion. These post-conviction motions are filed after the direct appeal.
Rule 3.850 Motions are particularly common in complicated cases that resulted in a long prison term when the underlying evidence is weak and the trial attorney was ineffective. Post-conviction motions are complicated.
Few of these motions will result in meaningful relief. Nevertheless, this process is often a person’s last opportunity to seek relief from a judgment and sentence entered by the trial court.
For this reason, it is very important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to conduct a review of the case by looking at the state’s file, the clerk’s file, and the trial attorney’s file to determine what issues can be used to seek relief on a post-conviction matter.
Attorney for Post Conviction Motions in Tampa, FL
At the Sammis Law Firm, P.A., the first service performed for the client is a Post-Conviction Review. The Post-Conviction Review requires investigating all of the issues surrounding the verdict or plea to determine if there is a viable post-conviction claim.
We will discuss the case in great detail with the defendant, order and review the trial attorney’s file, order and review the clerk’s file, order and review the prosecutor’s file (through a public records request) talk with any potentially favorable witnesses that were not called to testify, discuss the case with the trial counsel, and perform other types of investigations suited to the review.
If a viable post-conviction claim exists, then litigation can begin. The first step in that litigation is filing the post-conviction motion on the defendant’s behalf.
If the client is in custody, then we travel to their location to sit down and talk with them in a confidential setting as part of the review of the case.
Contact the Sammis Law Firm to discuss your case and the possibility of obtaining post-conviction relief from your sentence and judgment. The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm, are ready to perform a post-conviction review from a judgment and sentence in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Polk County, Pasco County, Hernando County or any of the surrounding areas throughout central Florida.
Contact us today to speak directly with an experienced criminal defense attorney to investigate the merits of filing and litigating a post-conviction motion.
Call (813) 250-0500.
Procedures for Post-Conviction Motions in Hillsborough County, FL
In Hillsborough County, FL, all post-conviction motions are scheduled and heard in Circuit Criminal Division “J” in Tampa, FL. The different types of post-conviction motions heard at the courthouse in Tampa include:
- All initial motions seeking post-conviction relief in accordance with Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850:
- All motions related to Rule 3.850 including motions to appoint counsel and motions for rehearing; and
- All motions seeking post-conviction relief by defendants who have been sentenced to death in accordance with Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.851 and 3.852 and all related motions (e.g. motions for competency evaluations).
If relief is denied after the post-conviction motion is filed and litigated, then the next step is filing an appeal to the Second District Court of Appeals.
According to Administrative Order S-2020-014 (Circuit Criminal Division) signed on February 24, 2020, the following types of motions filed on and after the effective date of this administrative order will be assigned to and disposed of in the division in which the case was last pending:
- Any other matter that reopens or addresses a closed case;
- All motions related to initial Rule 3.850 motions filed on or before February 29, 2016 (e.g. motions to set hearings and motions to appoint counsel);
- All motions seeking postconviction DNA testing in accordance with Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853;
- All motions seeking postconviction DNA testing in accordance with Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853;
- All motions seeking a correction of jail credit in accordance with Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.801; and
- All motions seeking to correct, modify or reduce a sentence in accordance with Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.800(a), 3.800(b), 3.800(c), and all related motions (e.g. motions to set hearings and motions to appoint counsel).
Post-Plea Motions in Hillsborough County
Some motions filed after a plea was entered in Tampa and Hillsborough County, FL, are disposed of in the division in which the case was last pending. These motions include any matter that reopens or addressed a closed case including:
- Motions to Correct an Illegal Sentence;
- Motion to Modify a Sentence;
- Motions to Reduce a Sentence;
- Motions under Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.800(a)(b) or (c);
- Motions to Set Hearings;
- Motions to Appoint Counsel;
- Motions Seeking a Correction of Jail Credit under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.801; and
- Motions Seeking a Post-Conviction DNA Testing in accordance with Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853.
The Typical Process After a Plea or Guilty Verdict
The typical process following a plea or guilty verdict after trial in Florida includes the following:
- The defendant is sentenced by the trial court;
- The defendant files a direct appeal which addresses errors made by the court or the prosecutor at trial;
- If the appellate court denies relief from the direct appeal, the appellate court will send down a mandate that confirms the conviction. On that date, the clock begins ticking for post-conviction motions. The defendant has two years to file the post-conviction motion from the date that his conviction becomes final or on the date that the mandate is returned, whichever is later;
- The post-conviction motion can address issues that cannot be addressed in the direct appeal such as ineffective assistance of counsel or misconduct by the prosecutor; and
- A post-conviction motion can also address the ineffective assistance of counsel for the direct appeal.
Often called the “Rule 3’s” claims, most involve claims that “but for” counsel’s deficient performance there is a “reasonable probability” that the defendant would have been acquitted.
Less common “Rule 3” claims based on counsel’s alleged failure to convey a plea offer that supposedly would have been accepted. See, e.g., Abella v. State, 429 So. 2d 774 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983); Seymore v. State, 693 So. 2d 647 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997).
Timing Issues and Deadlines for Post-Conviction Motions
A Rule 3.850 motion must generally be filed within two (2) years of the conviction or mandate. A motion filed after the expiration of this time period is procedurally barred unless one of the following circumstances exists:
- A new fact that effects the case became known to the defendant or his attorney only after the trial and that new fact could not have been known previously even with the exercise of due diligence. This claim may also be related to an independent claim that the prosecutor withheld evidence that could have exonerated the defendant, but failed to disclose that evidence before the trial or plea, which explains the reason why is was not know previously.
- The appellate courts have made a ruling regarding a fundamental constitutional right that can be retroactively applied to this case.
- The defendant hired an attorney to file a Rule 3.850 motion, but the attorney failed to file the motion because of the negligence of the attorney through no fault of the defendant.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims
Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 provides a mechanism in which a person who has been convicted of a criminal offense can challenge that conviction and request that the conviction is set aside, vacated, or corrected.
A Rule 3.850 motion is sometimes called the “Rule 3 Motion.” When successful, a post-conviction motion can cause a sentence to be set aside, leaving the defendant in the position that he was in immediately before he entered a plea or went to trial.
Typically, that means the defendant is in a position to negotiate a better plea agreement to resolve the case before trial or to take the case to trial.
It is important to remember that a vacated plea does not necessarily mean that the defendant will obtain a better plea bargain. After the plea is vacated, especially when it is alleged that the plea was coerced, the prosecutor may say, “Well, you wanted a trial so we are going to give you a trial without the benefit of any pre-trial plea bargains.”
If the defendant then goes to trial and is convicted the second time, it is possible that the sentence after trial is greater than the original sentence. One factor that often works against the prosecutor is the passage of time. Witnesses can be harder to find. Memories fade. Physical evidence can be lost by the prosecutor’s office.
An experienced Post-Conviction Attorney can discuss all of these factors with you as part of the review. There are pros and cons to filing and litigating the motion that must be considered. The attorney can also keep you informed as the case moves forward if the motion is filed and litigated. The grounds for the motion can include the following:
- The judgment or sentence is against the law;
- The court was without jurisdiction to enter the judgment or sentence;
- The sentence was harsher than was allowed by the legislature that created the law;
- The plea that was entered by the defendant was coerced or involuntary; or
- The judgment or sentence is subject to any other type of collateral attack.
The most common post-conviction motion is a motion that alleges that the attorney that represented the defendant during his plea or trial was ineffective, or performed his job so poorly that it undermined the functioning of the process so that the trial or plea can not be relied upon. Post-conviction motions can also be filed to withdraw pleas that were entered without the representation of an attorney.
The most common post-conviction motion filed is an allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel. These claims can encompass every aspect of the attorney’s representation of the client, both inside and outside of the courtroom.
The claims related to ineffective assistance that occurred outside of the courtroom include the attorney’s investigation of the case, comments made to the client, interviews with witnesses, research into legal issues involved in the case, and advice given to the client.
A viable claim may exist when the trial attorney that represented the client made a mistake at trial or failed to perform some act that impact the outcome of the case.
For instance, if the attorney failed to file and litigate a motion to suppress evidence when such a motion had merit that claim might lead to post-conviction relief. A viable claim may also exist if trial counsel failed to call a witness that could have offered favorable testimony, and no strategy existed to support that failure.
In Alcorn v. State, 121 So. 3d 419 (Fla. 2013) [38 Fla. L. Weekly S397b], the Florida Supreme Court addressed the applicable standard for evaluating claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in the context of plea offers. The court adopted a four-part test defendants must meet to establish prejudice in the context of rejected plea offers.
Under the Alcorn test, to show prejudice, the defendant must demonstrate a reasonable probability, defined as a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome, of the following:
- he or she would have accepted the offer had counsel advised the defendant correctly;
- the prosecutor would not have withdrawn the offer;
- the court would have accepted the offer; and
- the conviction or sentence, or both, under the offer’s terms would have been less severe than under the judgment and sentence that in fact were imposed.
Alcorn, 121 So. 3d at 422.
Relief after a Coerced Plea in Florida
Additionally, if the defendant can show that his plea was coerced, a viable claim would exist. An allegation that the plea was coerced must show something more than the defendant entered the plea because he had to make a decision quickly or because he felt pressured to do so when he was in fear of a harsher sentence after trial if convicted.
A coerced plea points to some improper influence such as a threat to prosecute a close friend or family member of the defendant when that close friend or family member was actually innocent of the charge and was being threatened with prosecution merely to coerce a plea.
A viable claim for ineffective assistance of counsel can exist if the trial attorney convinced the defendant to enter a plea based on incorrect statements of the law or affirmative misrepresentation of the law.
For instance, if the trial attorney told the defendant that he could receive a 30-year sentence after trial when the offense charged only carried a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison after a conviction, then that misadvice might result in post-conviction relief.
Additionally, a viable claim may exist if it can be shown that the defendant was insane at the time of the plea or under the influence of medication to the extent that he was unable to make an informed decision or understand the consequences of the plea.
The Prosecutor’s Failure to Disclose Exculpatory Evidence
The Supreme Court of the United States has set out the standard for post-conviction relief when the prosecutor fails to disclose exculpatory evidence.
n Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419 (1995), the rule was announced that the conviction would not stand when the prosecutor knowingly failed to tell the defense about exculpatory evidence (evidence that was favorable to the defense), and that evidence created a reasonable probability that a different result would have resulted at trial had the evidence been properly disclosed to the defense. See also Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263 (1999).
In Banks v. Dretke, 540 U.S. 668 (2004), relief was granted because of the prosecutor’s failure to disclose favorable evidence when the state failed to disclose the fact that a prosecution witness was also working as a confidential informant for the state. In fact, in the Banks case, the prosecution did more than just fail to disclose, in that case, the prosecution also denied that the witness was working as an informant.
The Prosecutor Offered Testimony that the Prosecutor Knew was False
In order to present a viable Rule 3.850 claim under a theory that the prosecutor offered testimony that the prosecutor knew was false, it must be shown that the prosecutor had “actual knowledge” that the witnesses offered perjured or false testimony.
Proving such a claim is extremely difficult because rarely will the witness or prosecutor admit to such a violation. Even in cases in which the witness will admit that he told the prosecutor of the intentionally false testimony, the prosecutor may deny such a claim, creating a credibility issue for the court to resolve.
Even when such a showing is made, to prevail on the claim it also must be shown that the perjured testimony was material to an issue decided by the jury. A claim of intentionally false testimony may also support an independent claim of newly discovered evidence as discussed above.
Post-Conviction Motions for Newly Discovered Evidence in Florida
A viable claim for newly discovered evidence can exist when the defendant can show the following:
- Evidence that a prosecution witness later recants their testimony which is also supported by some independent and highly persuasive support showing that the recantation is genuine because courts are reluctant to readdress credibility issues in favor of the defendant;
- The new evidence was discovered by the defendant after the trial and sentence occurred;
- Neither the defendant nor his attorney could have learned of the new evidence prior to the trial and sentence;
- The evidence is relevant and material to an element of the charge;
- The evidence is not cumulative or in addition to other similar evidence known prior to trial; and
- The evidence is so important that it could change the outcome of the case if a new trial is granted and supports the actual innocence of the defendant.
The courts have established a two-prong test for determining postconviction claims for newly discovered evidence relating to guilty pleas. First, the evidence must not have been known by the trial court, the party, or counsel at the time of the plea, and it must appear that the defendant or defense counsel could not have known of it by the use of diligence.
Second, the defendant must demonstrate a reasonable probability that, but for the newly discovered evidence, the defendant would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.
“[I]n determining whether a reasonable probability exists that the defendant would have insisted on going to trial, a court should consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding the plea, including such factors as whether a particular defense was likely to succeed at trial, the colloquy between the defendant and the trial court at the time of the plea, and the difference between the sentence imposed under the plea and the maximum possible sentence the defendant faced at a trial.” Long v. State, 183 So. 3d 342, 346 (Fla. 2016) (quoting Grosvenor v. State, 874 So. 2d 1176, 1181-82 (Fla. 2004).
Statistics on Post Conviction Motions Filed in Florida in FY 2014-15
For the purposes of the FY 2014-15 Statistical Reference Guide, the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator defines the term “Post Conviction Relief Motions” to mean “a post conviction relief motion is a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence pursuant to rule 3.850, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.”
According to the statistics kept in the statistical reference guide for FY 2014-15, the Florida Office of State Court Administrators found that the following total number of Circuit Criminal Special Proceedings were filed in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County:
- The number of reopenings in Hillsborough County was 8,472 while the statewide total was 81,868;
- The number of “No Files” in Hillsborough County was 2,365 while the statewide total was 51,950;
- The number of appeals filed from County Court in Hillsborough County was 26 while the statewide total was 491;
- The number of Post Conviction Relief Motions in Hillsborough County was 371 while the statewide total was 9,128;
- The number of Probation Revocation Hearings in Hillsborough County was 8,518 while the statewide total was 71,172;
- The number of Bond Hearings in Hillsborough County was 3,571 while the statewide total was 37,138;
- The number of Adversary Preliminary Hearings in Hillsborough County was 665 while the statewide total was 916;
- The total number of Circuit Criminal Special Proceedings in Hillsborough County 23,988 while the statewide total was 252,663.
Additional Resources
Justice Denied – The Magazine For The Wrongly Convicted. Published monthly, this magazine and website is dedicated to bringing you the stories of innocent people who have been wrongfully convicted, and their fight for justice in the legal system.
The Innocence Project – National litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing.
Florida Rules of Criminal Procedures for Post-Conviction Motions – Visit the website of the Florida Bar to find sample 3.850 forms for post-conviction relief under Rule 3.800 and Rule 3.850 for ineffective assistance of counsel. Also find motions to withdraw a coerced plea in Florida. For the purposes of the FY 2014-15 Statistical Reference Guide, the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator defines the term “Post Conviction Relief Motions” to mean “a post conviction relief motion is a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence pursuant to rule 3.850, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.”
Finding an Attorney for Post Conviction Motions in Tampa Bay
The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm, P.A., are ready to start the process of a post-conviction review for a case in Hillsborough County, Polk County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Polk County, Hernando County, or any of the surrounding areas throughout Tampa Bay.
We also represent clients in direct criminal appeals and criminal restitution hearings after a conviction. We can begin your post-conviction review. We can also file and litigate a Rule 3.800 or 3.850 if warranted under the facts of your particular case. If you need a post-conviction relief attorney in Florida, then call an attorney at the Sammis Law Firm.
It is important to realize that if post-conviction relief is denied, the next step is pursuing an appeal to a higher court. After that, the only other step is seeking clemency.
For many, if the request for post-conviction relief is denied, there will be no relief.
Call (813) 250-0500 to discuss your case.
This article was last updated on Friday, July 29, 2022.
