Case Name: Raymond BRANCH, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida; The Florida Civil Commitment Center; Robert Broidy, Director, Florida Civil Commitment Center; Department of Children and Family Services; and Jerry Regier, Secretary, Department of Children and Family Services, Respondents
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2004-06-02
Citations: 874 So. 2d 708
Docket Number: No. 2D03-1617
Parties: Raymond BRANCH, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida; The Florida Civil Commitment Center; Robert Broidy, Director, Florida Civil Commitment Center; Department of Children and Family Services; and Jerry Regier, Secretary, Department of Children and Family Services, Respondents.
Judges: SALCINES and STRINGER, JR, Concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 874
Pages: 708–709

Head Matter:
Raymond BRANCH, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida; The Florida Civil Commitment Center; Robert Broidy, Director, Florida Civil Commitment Center; Department of Children and Family Services; and Jerry Regier, Secretary, Department of Children and Family Services, Respondents.
No. 2D03-1617.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
June 2, 2004.
Julianne M. Holt, Public Defender, and Jeanine Cohen, Assistant Public Defender, Tampa, for Petitioner.
Charles J. Crist, Jr., Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Janet A. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Respondents.

Opinion:
SILBERMAN, Judge.
Raymond Branch, a committed person under part V of chapter 394, Florida Statutes (2000), entitléd "Involuntary Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators" (the Act), seeks a writ of habeas corpus ordering his immediate release from confinement. Alternatively, he seeks a writ of mandamus ordering the trial court to comply with section 394.918(3) of the Act.
This case is governed by our holding in Allen v. State, 873 So.2d 576 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004). Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of habeas corpus and grant the petition for writ of mandamus. We direct the circuit court to hold a limited probable cause hearing pursuant to section 394.918(3), with counsel representing Mr. Branch as mandated, unless Mr. Branch has been afforded such a hearing in the last calendar year.
Petition for writ of habeas corpus denied; petition for writ of mandamus granted.
SALCINES and STRINGER, JR, Concur.