What Happens at First Appearance in Hillsborough County, FL?
After an arrest, not everyone is able to immediately bond out of jail. Even some misdemeanor charges might result in a person being held until the first appearance court hearing.
For serious felony charges, such as DUI Manslaughter, a first appearance hearing is required before the court will set bond. The most common misdemeanor offense that requires a first appearance hearing is for domestic violence battery.
In a domestic violence case, the court will tell the person what they are charged with, set a bond (if they are eligible for a bond), and impose a “no contact” provision. The “no contact” provision means that the defendant is not allowed to have any contact with the alleged victim while the case is pending.
If the alleged victim wants to have contact, then the court might impose a “no violent contact” provision either at first appearance or at hearing to modify the “no contact” provision.
An attorney can appear at the first appearance hearing, review the criminal report affidavit to show why probable cause does not exist, and argue for the lowest possible bond amount or even release on recognizance (ROR). The bond might be lowered or set at ROR if the attorney can show that the person is not a flight risk and has significant ties to the community.
A criminal defense attorney can also ask the court not to impose any of the burdensome pretrial release conditions that might otherwise be imposed such as a GPS monitor, CAM monitor, or “no contact” provision.
Attorneys for First Appearance Court in Tampa, FL
This article explains when a first appearance hearing is required after an arrest in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, FL, for cases at the courthouse in Tampa and Plant City. FL.
If you need an attorney to represent you or a loved one at the first appearance hearing in Hillsborough County, FL, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm. Our main office located in downtown Tampa, just a few blocks from the George Edgecomb Courthouse.
First appearance hearings are held 365 days a year. At Sammis Law Firm, we have four attorneys. One of our attorneys is on call each weekend or holiday to handle cases on an emergency basis.
We can also set up a jail visit remotely (usually on the same day) to speak with an inmate at the jail at Orient Road Jail or Faulkenburg Road jail if requested.
You need an aggressive and experienced attorney at all stages of the case including the first appearance hearing, the pre-file investigation. the arraignment, pre-trial conferences, motion hearings, and trial.
To discuss your case or set up a video conference, call 813-250-0500.
When a First Appearance Hearing is Required in Hillsborough County
If you are booked into the jail before midnight, then you will usually be scheduled for first appearance hearing the next day. If you are in jail, you will attend court remotely through video conferencing access from a courtroom set up at the jail.
Depending on the circumstances, you might not be allowed to immediately bond out of jail after the arrest. Those circumstances are listed in an administrative order S-2018-022 (Uniform Bail Bond Schedule) for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, FL, which became effective on July 1, 2018.
If a first appearance hearing is required, then the judge will determine the appropriate amount of bail bond, if any.
According to the administrative order, the following persons who are arrested will not be released on a bail bond pending the arrested person’s first appearance hearing:
- Anyone who at the time of arrest is known to be on pretrial release for another charge;
- Anyone who is determined to be on felony probation or felony community control; or
- Anyone who is determined to be a sexual offender or a sexual predator unless the arrest is for a misdemeanor offense under chapter 316, Florida Statutes( § 903.046(2)(m) , Fla. Stat.).
Additionally, the nature of the charge the person is arrested for might make the person not eligible for release on a bail bond pending the first appearance hearing including:
- any capital felony
- any life felony
- any first degree felony punishable by life (PBL)
- Attempt/Solicitation/Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder
- Attempt/Solicitation/Conspiracy to Commit Second Degree Murder
- Aggravated Child Abuse
- Arson
- Carjacking
- Domestic Violence (§ 741.2901(3), Fla. Stat.)
- DUI Manslaughter
- Escape
- Failure of Defendant on Bail to Appear(§ 843. l 5, Fla. Stat.)
- Retaliating Against a Witness (§ 914.23 , Fla. Stat.)
- Sexual Battery
- Trafficking Offenses
- Violation of Pretrial Release when the original arrest was for domestic violence(§ 741.29(6), Fla. Stat.)
- Violation of an injunction including:
- Violation of Domestic Violence Injunction(§ 74 l.30(9)(b) , Fla. Stat.)
- Violation of Injunction for Protection against Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult( § 825.1035(11), Fla . Stat. (2018))
- Violation of Repeat Violence Injunction when the alleged violation involves repeat violence( § 784.046(9)(b), Fla. Stat.)
- Gang-Related Offense s (Ch. 874, Fla. Stat.)
Special Procedures for Violations of a Conditional Release Program
Special procedures are required by §947.141(2), Fla. Stat., any offender who is arrested on a felony charge while on release supervision under any of the following programs:
- sections 947.1405 (conditional release program)
- section 947.146 (control release authority)
- section 947.149 (conditional medical release)
- section 944.4731 (addiction-recovery supervision program)
In those cases, if the first appearance judge determines there is probable cause for the arrest, the offender must continue to be detained without bond for up to 72 hours, pending a decision by the Florida Commission on Offender Review to issue a warrant charging the offender with violation of the conditions of release.
Read more about first appearance hearings for domestic violence charges in Tampa, FL.
Contact the attorneys at Sammis Law Firm for more information about first appearance hearings in Tampa, FL.
Call 813-250-0500.
