Fla. Stat. § 984.09 — Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 984 / Section 984.09
984.09 Punishment for contempt of court; alternative sanctions.
Status: in_force

(1) CONTEMPT OF COURT; LEGISLATIVE INTENT. — The court may punish any child for contempt for interfering with the court or with court administration, or for violating any provision of this chapter or order of the court relative thereto. It is the intent of the Legislature that the court restrict and limit the use of contempt powers and prohibit the use of detention care and secure detention facilities as provided in s. 984.0861. A child who commits direct contempt of court or indirect contempt of a valid court order may be taken into custody and ordered to serve an alternative sanction or placed in a shelter facility, as authorized in this section, by order of the court.

(2) PLACEMENT IN A SHELTER. — A child adjudicated as a child in need of services may only be placed in a shelter for purposes of punishment for contempt of court if alternative sanctions are unavailable or inappropriate, or if the child has already been ordered to serve an alternative sanction but failed to comply with the sanction. (a) A child in need of services who has been held in direct contempt or indirect contempt may be placed, for 5 days for a first offense or 15 days for a second or subsequent offense, in a shelter operated by or contracted with the department to provide such services. In addition to disposition under this paragraph, a child in need of services who is held in direct contempt or indirect contempt may be placed in a physically secure shelter as provided under s. 984.226 if conditions of eligibility are met. (b) A child subject to proceedings under s. 984.151 who has been held in direct contempt or indirect contempt may only be placed, for 5 days for a first offense or 15 days for a second or subsequent offense, in a shelter operated by or contracted with the department for such services if a shelter bed is available. Upon a second or subsequent finding of contempt under this section, the court must refer the child to the case staffing committee with a recommendation to file a child in need of services petition. (c) Any shelter placement ordered under this section must be given as a cumulative sanction. Separate sanctions for the same act or series of acts within the same episode may not be imposed.

(3) ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS. — Upon determining that a child has committed direct contempt of court or indirect contempt of a valid court order, the court may immediately request the circuit alternative sanctions coordinator to recommend the most appropriate available alternative sanction and shall order the child to perform up to 50 hours of community service or a similar alternative sanction, unless an alternative sanction is unavailable or inappropriate, or unless the child has failed to comply with a prior alternative sanction. Alternative contempt sanctions may be provided by local industry or by any nonprofit organization or any public or private business or service entity that has entered into a contract with the department to act as an agent of the state to provide voluntary supervision of children on behalf of the state in exchange for the labor of children and limited immunity in accordance with s. 768.28(11).

(4) CONTEMPT OF COURT SANCTIONS; PROCEDURE AND DUE PROCESS. — (a) If a child subject to proceedings under this chapter is charged with direct contempt of court, the court may impose an authorized sanction immediately. (b) If a child subject to proceedings under this chapter is charged with indirect contempt of court, the court must issue an order to show cause and schedule a hearing to determine whether the child committed indirect contempt of a valid court order. The child must be served with the order to show cause and notice of hearing. At the hearing, the following due process rights must be provided to the child: 1. Right to a copy of the order to show cause alleging facts supporting the contempt charge. 2. Right to an explanation of the nature and the consequences of the proceedings. 3. Right to legal counsel and the right to have legal counsel appointed by the court if the juvenile is indigent, pursuant to s. 984.07. 4. Right to confront witnesses. 5. Right to present witnesses. 6. Right to have a transcript or record of the proceeding. 7. Right to appeal to an appropriate court. The child’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian may address the court regarding the due process rights of the child. If, after the hearing, the court determines the child has committed indirect contempt of a valid court order, the court may impose an alternative sanction or may proceed under subsection (2). If the court orders shelter placement of a child found in contempt of court, the court shall review the matter every 72 hours to determine whether it is appropriate for the child to remain in the facility. (c) The court may not order that a child be placed in a shelter facility for punishment for contempt unless the court determines that an alternative sanction is inappropriate or unavailable or that the child was initially ordered to an alternative sanction and did not comply with the alternative sanction. The court is encouraged to order a child to perform community service, up to the maximum number of hours, where appropriate before ordering that the child be placed in a shelter facility as punishment for contempt of court.

(5) ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS COORDINATOR. — There is created the position of alternative sanctions coordinator within each judicial circuit. Each alternative sanctions coordinator shall serve under the direction of the chief administrative judge of the juvenile division as directed by the chief judge of the circuit. The alternative sanctions coordinator shall act as the liaison between the judiciary, local department officials, district school board employees, and local law enforcement agencies. The alternative sanctions coordinator shall coordinate within the circuit community-based alternative sanctions, including community service projects.

History: s. 95, ch. 97-238; s. 1, ch. 97-281; s. 2, ch. 2000-134; s. 16, ch. 2000-135; s. 125, ch. 2006-120; s. 11, ch. 2025-153.