Prison Releasee Reoffender (PRR) in Florida
Florida law provides for specific statutory enhanced penalties for any person designated as a Prison Releasee Reoffender (often called the “PRR” under Florida law).
The provisions for Prison Releasee Reoffender (PRR) can be found in Florida Statute Section 775.082(9)(a)(1). Under Florida law, the PRR applies to a defendant who:
- commits a felony;
- within 3 years of release from federal or state prison;
- for a crime punishable by at least 1 year in prison in Florida.
Minimum Mandatory Provisions of PRR in Florida
| Prison Releasee Reoffender (PRR) | |
| Life Felony | Life with no parole. Must serve 100% of the sentence. |
| First Degree Felony | 30 years with no parole. Must serve 100% of the sentence. |
| Second Degree Felony | 15 years with no parole. Must serve 100% of the sentence. |
| Third Degree Felony | 5 years with no parole. Must serve 100% of the sentence. |
Under Florida law, the prison releasee reoffender (PRR) statute requires the court to determine if while servicing a sentence of imprisonment for more than one year, or on escape status, or within three years of release from a facility operated by the Department of Corrections or a private vendor or another state or territory, the Defendant committed, or attempted to commit one of the following felony offenses:
- Treason;
- Murder;
- Manslaughter;
- Sexual Battery;
- Carjacking;
- Home-invasion robbery;
- Robbery;
- Arson;
- Kidnapping;
- Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon;
- Aggravated Battery;
- Aggravated stalking;
- Aircraft piracy;
- Unlawful throw, place or discharge of destructive device or bomb;
- Any felony that involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against an individual;
- Armed burglary;
- Burglary of a dwelling or burglary of an occupied structure (See Bradshaw v. State, 891 So.2d 1184 (2nd 2005); or
- Any felony violation of Florida Statute Section 790.07, 800.04, 827.03, and 827.071.
Disclaimer: This short summary does not explain every aspect of the enhanced sentencing penalties under Florida law. Instead, the summary is intended to provide general information that might act as a starting point for further research.
The criminal defense attorneys at Sammis Law Firm represent clients charged with the most serious felony offenses in Tampa, FL, and throughout the greater Tampa Bay area.
Statistics on Florida’s Prisoner Release Reoffender Law
Florida Sheriff’s Association Research Institute just released statistics on Florida’s Prisoner Release Reoffender law. Enacted in 1997 to address habitual and repeat offenders, PRR law passed the Florida Legislature unanimously before being signed into law by Democratic Governor Lawton Chiles. The legislation was in response to statistics showing that from 1987 to 1993, over 200,000 inmates were released early after serving only 34% of the originally imposed sentence on average.
The statistics compiled by the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) show that the recidivism rate in Florida is approximately 25% within three (3) years of a state prisoner’s release. Within 5 years, that number goes up to 35%. These statistics do not include those sentenced to county jail or other non-prison terms.
As of September 1, 2020, nearly 9% of all inmates were serving a PRR sentence in Florida’s prisons.
This article was last updated on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
