Court Opinion

ID: 6350337
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-16 15:02:02.994981+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:41.554871
License: Public Domain

Supreme Court of Florida
                            ____________

                           No. SC21-891
                            ____________

    IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF CRIMINAL
                  PROCEDURE 3.992.

                        March 24, 2022
                      CORRECTED OPINION

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

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

                                   -2-
stating that “[t]he maximum sentence 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 (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

                                   -3-
immediately. Because the amendments were significantly altered

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.

      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.

                                  -4-
Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure

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

                                   -5-
                                                                                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                        10. PRIMARY OFF. DATE             12.

                                                                                                      B W OTHER                                                     PLEA    
                                                                      7. DC #                         9. GENDER                      11. PRIMARY DOCKET #
                                                                                                                                                                       TRIAL   
                                                                                                      M F
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                 4x      _______ =         ________
              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        AS C R
                                                  /                                           _                       ______                   X             _     = ____
                                                  /                                                                ________                    X             _     = _____
                                                  /                                                                 _______                    X            _      = _____
                                                  /                                                                 _______                    X             _     = _____
                                                  /                                                                ________                    X_            _     = _____
                                                  /                                                                  _______                   X             _     = _____

                                                                                        -6-
                                      /                                                                                  ________                              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.          Drug Trafficker   Motor Vehicle Theft   Criminal Gang Offense   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 ___ x 2.5      ____ x 1.5           ___ x 1.5             ___ x 1.5                            ___ 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.

 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.

                                                                                  -7-
    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 _________________________________________________________________________________________
  __________/       ________/       _____________/            ___________                              _______         x      _______ =     _______
  DESCRIPTION _________________________________________________________________________________________
  __________/       ________/       _____________/            ___________                              _______         x      _______ =     _______
  DESCRIPTION _________________________________________________________________________________________
  __________/       ________/       _____________/            ___________                              _______         x      _______ =     _______

                                                                            -8-
    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.

                                                                                    -9-
                                                      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

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