Obstruction of Justice in Florida

In Florida, the term “obstruction of justice” refers to criminal offenses that occur when someone willfully interferes with the legal system’s ability to carry out its functions. Crimes for obstruction of justice involve unlawful acts intended to disrupt investigations, trials, or other legal proceedings, including:

• tampering with evidence;
• bribing a witness;
• lying to law enforcement
• threatening a judge;
• threatening a juror.

The Florida Supreme Court has approved the following standard jury instructions in Chapter 21 which is dedicated to the following “Obstruction of Justice” cirmes:

• 21.1 Resisting Officer with Violence, § 843.01, Fla. Stat.
• 21.1(a) Resisting a Police [Canine] [Horse] with Violence, § 843.01(2), Fla. Stat.
• 21.2 Resisting An Officer without Violence, § 843.02, Fla. Stat.
• 21.3 Obstruction by Disguised Person. § 843.03, Fla. Stat.
• 21.4 False Report of Commission of a Crime, § 817.49, Fla. Stat.
• 21.5 Giving False Information Concerning The Commission of A Crime, § 837.05(1), Fla. Stat.
• 21.6 Giving False Information Concerning The Commission of A Capital Felony, § 837.05(2), Fla. Stat.
• 21.7 Giving False Name or Identification to Law Enforcement Officer Adversely Affecting Another, § 901.36(2), Fla. Stat.
• 21.8 Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, § 918.13 Fla. Stat.
• 21.9 [Attempted] Retaliating Against a [Witness] [Victim] [Informant], § 914.23, Fla. Stat.
• 21.10 Tampering With a [Witness] [Victim] [Informant], § 914.22(1), Fla. Stat.
• 21.11 Harassing a [Witness] [Victim] [Informant], § 914.22(3), Fla. Stat.
• 21.12 Corruption by [Harm] [Threat of Harm] Against a Public Servant, § 838.021, Fla. Stat.21.13 Depriving an Officer of Means Of [Protection] [Communication], § 843.025, Fla. Stat.
• 21.14 False Information to Law Enforcement Investigating a Missing Person 16 Years of Age or Younger Who Suffers [Great Bodily Harm] [Permanent Disability] [Permanent Disfigurement] [Death], § 837.055(2), Fla. Stat.
• 21.15 False Information to Law Enforcement, § 837.055(1), Fla. Stat.
• 21.16 Falsely Personating an Officer, § 843.08, Fla. Stat.
• 21.17 Compounding a Felony, § 843.14, Fla. Stat.
• 21.18 Accessory after the Fact, § 777.03(1), Fla. Stat.
• 21.19(a) [Causing [Great Bodily Harm] [Permanent Disability] [Death] To] [or] [Using a Deadly Weapon Upon] a [Police] [Fire] [Search and Rescue] [Canine] [Horse], § 843.19(2), Fla. Stat.
• 21.19(b) Maliciously [Touching] [Striking] [Causing Bodily Harm] to a [Police] [Fire] [Search and Rescue] [Canine] [Horse], § 843.19(3), Fla. Stat.
• 21.19(c) Maliciously [Harassing] [Teasing] [Interfering with] [Attempting to Interfere With] a [Police] [Fire] [Search and Rescue] [Canine] [ Horse], § 843.19(4), Fla. Stat.
• 21.20 Tampering with an Electronic Monitoring Device, § 843.23, Fla. Stat.
• 21.21 Failure to Report Known or Suspected Unlawful Abuse or Sexual Misconduct by a State Corrections Department Employee Upon an [Inmate] [Offender], § 944.35(4(a), (4)(b), and (4)(c), Fla. Stat.
• 21.22 Misuse of 911 Services § 365.172(14) Fla. Stat.
• 21.23 Interfering with a [Law Enforcement Officer] [Correctional Probation Officer] [Firefighter] [Emergency Medical Care Provider] After Warning § 843.31

Under Chapter 843 of the Florida Statutes, obstruction of justice charges apply to actions that deliberately interfere with a legally authorized person in the lawful execution of their duty. Those legally authorized persons subject to acts of obstruction might include:

• police officers;
• other peace officers;
• correctional officers;
• correctional probation officers;
• members of the Florida Highway Patrol; and
• members of other governmental agencies
• any member of the Florida Commission on Offender Review;
• any administrative aide or supervisor employed by the commission;
• and parole and probation supervisor;
• and county probation officer;
• and personnel or representative of the Department of Law Enforcement; or
• and other person legally authorized to execute process.

This article was last updated on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.