Case Title: In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.992

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC21-891

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2022-03-24T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC21-891 
____________ 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF CRIMINAL 
PROCEDURE 3.992. 
 
March 24, 2022 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of proposed 
amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.992.  We have 
jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.  The Criminal Court 
Steering Committee (CCSC) filed a report proposing amendments to 
rule 3.992 (Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheets).  The CCSC’s 
report was in response to a referral from the Court to propose 
amendments to the rule in accordance with the Court’s recent 
decision in State v. Gabriel, 314 So. 3d 1243, 1252 (Fla. 2021) 
(concluding that “under section 921.0024(2), the LPS [lowest 
permissible sentence] is an individual minimum sentence where 
there are multiple convictions subject to sentencing on a single 
scoresheet”).  The CCSC and the Court previously published the 
 
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proposal for comment.  The CCSC submitted an amended report, 
which was published by the Court and received one comment. 
 
Having considered the amended proposal, the comment, and 
the Committee’s response, the Court hereby amends rule 3.992 
with additional modifications to the amended proposal.  Specifically, 
under the sentence computation heading, in the third box, 
additional language is added to explain that the lowest permissible 
sentence is imposed if it is higher than the statutory maximum for 
an individual felony offense pursuant to Gabriel, and a detailed 
calculation is added to explain how to total the maximum sentence 
for each felony offense before the court for sentencing. 
 
The CCSC’s amended proposal does not fully resolve the 
concerns identified by this Court in Gabriel.  In Gabriel, on the 
single line titled “maximum sentence in years,” the trial judge 
entered “25 years,” the collective statutory maximum for the three 
offenses before the court for sentencing.  314 So. 3d at 1251 n.6.  
As noted by this Court in Gabriel, this single line suggested one 
collective maximum sentence when there were multiple convictions 
subject to sentencing.  Further, the language in the third box 
stating that “[t]he maximum sentence is up to the statutory 
 
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maximum for the primary and any additional offenses as provided 
in s. 775.082, F.S., unless the lowest permissible sentence (LPS) 
under the Code exceeds the statutory maximum” created ambiguity 
regarding the trial court’s individual consideration of each offense’s 
statutory maximum sentence for purposes of determining whether 
it was exceeded by the LPS.  The CCSC’s response suggests that the 
purpose of the single line titled “maximum sentence in years” in the 
third box under the sentence computation heading is to assist the 
trial court in accurately advising a defendant of the maximum 
prison exposure prior to entering a plea.  We believe that the 
amendments reflected in appendix A to this opinion clarify the 
calculation for determining a defendant’s total maximum sentence 
when there are multiple offenses before the court for sentencing.  
For purposes of illustrating its use, we applied the amendments to 
rule 3.992 to Gabriel’s case in appendix B to this opinion. 
 
Accordingly, we amend Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 
3.992 as reflected in appendix A to this opinion.  New language is 
indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by struck-
through type.  The amendments to the rule shall become effective 
immediately.  Because the amendments were significantly altered 
 
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from the version that was previously published for comment, 
interested persons shall have seventy-five days from the date of this 
opinion in which to file comments with the Court.1 
 
It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and POLSTON, LABARGA, LAWSON, MUÑIZ, COURIEL, 
and GROSSHANS, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 
 
 
1.  All comments must be filed with the Court on or before 
June 7, 2022, with a certificate of service verifying that a copy has 
been served on the Committee Chair, Honorable Debra J. Riva, 
Twelfth Judicial Circuit, P.O. Box 48927, Sarasota, Florida 34230-
5927, driva@jud12.flcourts.org, and on the OSCA Staff Liaison to 
the Committee, Bart Schneider, 500 S. Duval Street, Tallahassee, 
Florida 32399, schneidb@flcourts.org, as well as a separate request 
for oral argument if the person filing the comment wishes to 
participate in oral argument, which may be scheduled in this case.  
The Committee Chair has until June 28, 2022, to file a response to 
any comments filed with the Court.  If filed by an attorney in good 
standing with The Florida Bar, the comment must be electronically 
filed via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (Portal) in accordance 
with In re Electronic Filing in the Supreme Court of Florida via the 
Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC13-7 
(Feb. 18, 2013).  If filed by a nonlawyer or a lawyer not licensed to 
practice in Florida, the comment may be, but is not required to be, 
filed via the Portal.  Any person unable to submit a comment 
electronically must mail or hand-deliver the originally signed 
comment to the Florida Supreme Court, Office of the Clerk, 500 
South Duval Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1927; no additional 
copies are required or will be accepted. 
 
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Judge Debra J. Riva, Chair, Criminal Court Steering Committee, 
Sarasota, Florida, and Bart Schneider, Staff Liaison, Office of the State 
Courts Administrator, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
Hon. Carlos J. Martinez and Maria E. Lauredo on behalf of the Florida 
Public Defender Association, Inc., Miami, Florida, 
 
 
Responding with comments 
 
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APPENDIX A 
Rule 3.992(a) Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheet 
๠e Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheet Preparation Manual is available at:  http://www.dc.state.ﬂ.us/pub/sen_cpcm/index.html 
 
1.  DATE OF SENTENCE 
 
 
 
2.  PREPARER’S NAME      
 
3.  COUNTY 
 
4.  SENTENCING JUDGE 
 
5.  NAME   (LAST, FIRST, MI.I.) 
 
6.  DOB 
 
8.  RACE 
B  W  OTHER 
 
10.  PRIMARY OFF. DATE 
 
12. 
PLEA   
 
 
 
7.   DC # 
 
9.  GENDER 
M  F 
 
11.  PRIMARY DOCKET # 
 
TRIAL  
I.  
PRIMARY OFFENSE:  If Qualifier, please check ____A ____S ____C ____R  (A=Attempt, S=Solicitation, C=Conspiracy, R=Reclassification)
 
 
 
FELONY 
 F.S.#  
 
DESCRIPTION  
 
 
 
 
 
OFFENSE                   POINTS  
DEGREE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   LEVEL 
_______/ 
___________/ 
___________________________________________/     
__________/  
 
(Level - Points: 1=4, 2=10, 3=16, 4=22, 5=28, 6=36, 7=56, 8=74, 9=92, 10=116) 
Prior capital felony triples Primary Offense points  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I. 
 ________ 
 
II. 
ADDITIONAL OFFENSE(S): Supplemental page attached  
DOCKET# 
FEL/MM 
F.S.# 
 
OFFENSE 
QUALIFY 
COUNTS 
 
POINTS 
 
TOTAL 
DEGREE 
 
 
  LEVEL 
 A   S   C    R 
_____________/ 
_________/ 
______________/ 
_________ 
    _______ 
x 
______ 
= 
______ 
DESCRIPTION 
________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
_____________/ 
________/ 
______________/ 
_________ 
    _______ 
X 
______ 
= 
______ 
DESCRIPTION 
    ________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
_____________/ 
________/ 
_____________/ 
_________ 
    _______ 
X 
______ 
= 
______ 
DESCRIPTION 
    ________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
_____________/ 
_________/ 
______________/ 
_________ 
    _______ 
x 
______ 
= 
______ 
 
  DESCRIPTION 
 
________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
  (Level - Points: M=0.2, 1=0.7, 2=1.2, 3=2.4, 4=3.6, 5=5.4, 6=18, 7=28, 8=37, 9=46, 10=58) 
 
  Prior capital felony triples Additional Offense points   
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental page points________ 
         II. 
_________ 
III. VICTIM INJURY: 
Number 
 
Total 
 
 
 
Number  
Total 
2nd Degree Murder 
 
240 x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
Slight 
 
  4 x  
_______ = 
________ 
Death 
 
 
120 x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
Sex Penetration 
80 x 
_______ = 
________ 
Severe 
 
 
  40 x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
Sex Contact 
40 x 
_______ = 
________ 
Moderate 
 
 
  18 x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
              III.         ______ 
 
IV. PRIOR RECORD:   Supplemental page attached  
 
FEL/MM 
F.S.#  
OFFENSE  QUALIFY: 
 
DESCRIPTION               
          NUMBER    POINTS       
TOTAL 
DEGREE 
 
 
 LEVEL        A S  C  R 
 
                                      /                                            _                                ______                  X          _    =   
____                       
                                      /                                                                         ________                   X          _    = 
_____          
                                      /                                                                           _______                   X         _     = 
_____          
                                      /                                                                          _______                    X          _    = 
 
- 7 - 
_____            
                                      /                                                                        ________                    X _       _    = 
_____  
                                      /                                                                          _______                    X          _    = 
_____         
                                      /                                                                         ________                   X          _    = 
_____            
                                      /                                                                          _______                    X          _    = 
_____ 
                                      / ________                                                            _______                    X         _ _  = 
_____                 
 
 (Level = Points: M=0.2, 1=0.5, 2=0.8, 3=1.6, 4=2.4, 5=3.6, 6=9, 7=14, 8=19, 9=23, 10=29)       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental page points      ______ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   IV. 
        _________
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 1 Subtotal: _____ 
Effective Date:  For offenses committed under the Criminal Punishment Code effective for offenses committee on or after October 1, 1998 and subsequent 
revisions. 
 
NAME (LAST, FIRST, MI) 
DOCKET # 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 1 Subtotal: 
 
________ 
V. 
Legal Status violation = 4 Points 
 Escape   Fleeing   Failure to appear   Supersedeas bond    Incarceration   Pretrial intervention or diversion program 
 Court imposed or post prison release community supervision resulting in a conviction 
 
 
 
 
 
V. ______
 
 
 
 
 
VI.    Community Sanction violation before the court for sentencing   
 Probation   Community Control   Pretrial Intervention or diversion 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VI. _______
 
 
 
6 points for any violation other than new felony conviction  x _______ each successive violation  OR 
 
New felony conviction = 12 points x _______ each successive violation if new offense results in conviction 
before or at same time as sentence for violation of probation OR     
           12 points x _______ each successive violation for a violent felony offender  
 
 
of special concern when the violation is not based solely on failure to pay costs, fines, or restitution OR 
 
New felony conviction = 24 points x _______ each successive violation for a violent felony offender of 
 
 
special concern if new offense results in a conviction before or at the same time for violation of probation 
 
 
VII. Firearm/Semi-Automatic or Machine Gun = 18 or 25 Points 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VII. _____ 
VIII. Prior Serious Felony - 30 Points 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VIII. _____ 
Subtotal Sentence Points  
 
________ 
IX. Enhancements (only if the primary offense qualifies for enhancement) 
 
Law Enf. Protect. 
 
___x 1.5 ___ x 2.0 ___ x 2.5 
 
Drug Trafficker 
 
____ x 1.5 
 
Motor Vehicle Theft 
 
___ x 1.5 
 
Criminal Gang Offense 
 
    ___ x 1.5 
 
Domestic Violence in the Presence of Related Child            Adult-on-Minor Sex Offense 
   (offenses committed on or after 3/12/07) 
           (offenses committed on or after 10/1/14)  
                   ___ x 1.5 
___x 2.0 
Enhanced Subtotal Sentence Points 
 
 IX. _____
 
 
 
TOTAL SENTENCE POINTS 
________ 
SENTENCE COMPUTATION 
 
 
If total sentence points are less than or equal to 44, the lowest permissible sentence is any non-state prison sanction.  If the total sentence 
points are 22 points or less, see Section 775.082(10), Florida Statutes, to determine if the court must sentence the offender to a non-state 
prison sanction. 
 
 
 
 
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      If total sentence points are greater than 44:  
                         __________________________ minus 28 = ____________________ x .75 =_____________________________________ 
                         total sentence points                                                                                           lowest permissible prison sentence in months  
If total sentence points are 60 points or less and court makes findings pursuant to both Florida Statute 948.20 and 397.334(3), 
the court may place the defendant into a treatment-based drug court program. 
 
 
 
The maximum sentence for each individual felony offense is up to the statutory maximum for the primary and any additional 
offenses as provided in s. 775.082, F.S., unless the lowest permissible sentence under the Code listed above exceeds the 
statutory maximum for that offense. If the lowest permissible sentence exceeds the statutory maximum for an individual felony 
offense, the lowest permissible sentence replaces the statutory maximum and must be imposed for that offense. See State v. 
Gabriel, 314 So. 3d 1243 (Fla. 2021). Such sSentences for multiple felony offenses may be imposed concurrently or consecutively. 
If total sentence points are greater than or equal to 363, a life sentence may be imposed. 
 
Primary offense: ____________________________________________________                     ________________________ 
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
Additional offense: __________________________________________________                     ________________________ 
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
Additional offense: __________________________________________________                     ________________________ 
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
Additional offense: __________________________________________________                     ________________________ 
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
 
Total maximum sentence in years for all counts above if consecutive sentences imposed: ________________________ 
                                                                                                                             
TOTAL SENTENCE IMPOSED 
     Years 
    Months 
     Days 
 State Prison  
 
Life 
 
 
___________ 
___________ 
__________ 
 County Jail 
 
 
Time Served 
 
___________ 
___________ 
__________ 
 Community Control 
 
 
 
 
___________ 
___________ 
__________ 
 
 
Probation     Modified  
 
 
___________ 
___________ 
__________ 
Please check if sentenced as  habitual offender, habitual violent offender,  violent career criminal,  prison releasee 
reoffender, 
 or a  mandatory minimum applies. 
 Mitigated Departure      Plea Bargain      Prison Diversion Program 
Other Reason _____________________________________________________________________________ 
JUDGE’S SIGNATURE 
 
 
 
Effective Date:  For offenses committed under the Criminal Punishment Code effective for offenses committed on or after October 1, 1998, and subsequent 
revisions. 
 3.992(b) Supplemental Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheet 
 
     NAME (LAST, FIRST, MI.I) 
 
      DOCKET # 
 
      DATE OF SENTENCE 
 
II. ADDITIONAL OFFENSES(S): 
DOCKET# 
FEL/MM 
F.S# 
 
OFFENSE  
QUALIFY  
COUNTS   
 
POINTS       TOTAL 
DEGREE 
 
 
  LEVEL  
A    S   C   R 
 
 
 
 
 
 
__________/ 
________/ 
_____________/ 
___________ 
    
_______ 
x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
DESCRIPTION _________________________________________________________________________________________ 
__________/ 
________/ 
_____________/ 
___________ 
    
_______ 
x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
DESCRIPTION _________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
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__________/ 
________/ 
_____________/ 
___________ 
    
_______ 
x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
DESCRIPTION _________________________________________________________________________________________ 
__________/ 
________/ 
_____________/ 
___________ 
    
_______ 
x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
DESCRIPTION _________________________________________________________________________________________ 
__________/ 
________/ 
_____________/ 
___________ 
    
_______ 
x 
_______ 
= 
_______ 
DESCRIPTION _________________________________________________________________________________________ 
(Level - Points: M=0.2, 1=0.7, 2=1.2, 3=2.4, 4=3.6, 5=5.4, 6=18, 7=28, 8=37, 9=46, 10=58) 
  II.  _________ 
IV. PRIOR RECORD 
FEL/MM 
F.S.#  
OFFENSE  
QUALIFY: 
OFFENSE/DATE/STATE   
   
   NUMBER         POINTS        
TOTAL 
DEGREE 
 
 
 LEVEL       
 A   S   C   R 
 
                                      /                        
                    /                    /                __     _______ X          __   = _ 
_____          
                                      /                        
                    /                    /             ____     _______ X          __   = _ 
_____ 
                                      /                        
                    /                    /             ____    _______ X          __   = _ 
_____ 
                                      /                        
                    /                    /                ___     ______  X          __  =  _ 
_____ 
                                      /                        
                    /                    /             ____     _______ X          __   = _ 
_____ 
                                      /                        
                    /                    /             ____     _______ X          __   = _ 
_____ 
(Level = Points: M=0.2, 1=0.5, 2=0.8, 3=1.6, 4=2.4, 5=3.6, 6=9, 7=14, 8=19, 9=23, 10=29) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
 
 
 
 
 
 
  IV.  _________ 
REASONS FOR DEPARTURE - MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES 
(reasons may be checked here or written on the scoresheet) 
  Legitimate, uncoerced plea bargain. 
 
The defendant was an accomplice to the offense and was a relatively minor participant in the criminal conduct. 
 
The capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminal nature of the conduct or to conform that conduct to the requirements of law was substantially impaired. 
 
The defendant requires specialized treatment for a mental disorder that is unrelated to substance abuse or addiction, or for a physical disability, and the defendant 
is 
amenable to treatment. 
 
The need for payment of restitution to the victim outweighs the need for a prison sentence. 
 
The victim was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident. 
 
The defendant acted under extreme duress or under the domination of another person. 
 
Before the identity of the defendant was determined, the victim was substantially compensated. 
 
The defendant cooperated with the State to resolve the current offense or any other offense. 
 
The offense was committed in an unsophisticated manner and was an isolated incident for which the defendant has shown remorse. 
 
At the time of the offense the defendant was too young to appreciate the consequences of the offense. 
 
The defendant is to be sentenced as a youthful offender. 
 
The defendant is amenable to the services of a postadjudicatory treatment-based drug court program and is otherwise qualified to participate in the program.  
 
The defendant was making a good faith effort to obtain or provide medical assistance for an individual experiencing a drug-related overdose. 
 
Pursuant to 921.0026(3) the defendant’s substance abuse or addiction does not justify a downward departure from the lowest permissible sentence, except for 
the provisions of s. 921.0026(2)(m). 
 
Effective Date:  For offenses committed under the Criminal Punishment Code effective for offenses committee on or after October 1, 1998 and subsequent 
revisions. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- 10 - 
APPENDIX B 
 
The maximum sentence for each individual felony offense is the statutory maximum as provided in s. 775.082, F.S., unless the 
lowest permissible sentence listed above exceeds the statutory maximum for that offense. If the lowest permissible sentence 
exceeds the statutory maximum for an individual felony offense, the lowest permissible sentence replaces the statutory maximum 
and must be imposed for that offense. See State v. Gabriel, 314 So. 3d 1243 (Fla. 2021). Sentences for multiple felony offenses 
may be imposed concurrently or consecutively. If total sentence points are greater than or equal to 363, a life sentence may be 
imposed. 
 
Primary offense:  Attempted robbery with a firearm  
 
 
                        
15 years  
   
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
Additional offense:  Resisting officer with violence  
 
 
                        
8.93 years 
 
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
Additional offense:  Aggravated assault with a firearm 
 
 
                       
8.93 years 
 
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
Additional offense: __________________________________________________                      ______________________ 
                                     Description                                                                                  Maximum sentence in years 
 
 
Total maximum sentence in years for all counts above if consecutive sentences imposed:          
32.86 years