Sentencing Enhancements for Repeat Offenders in Florida

Sentencing Enhancements for Repeat Offenders in Florida

If an individual is convicted of a criminal offense in Florida and is later accused of committing a similar or other criminal offense, or the same classification of offense for which he or she has already been convicted, state law will classify that individual as a repeat offender. Repeat offenders fall into 4 primary classifications:

  • Habitual Felony Offender (HFO)
  • Habitual Violent Felony Offender (HVFO)
  • Violent Career Criminal (VCC)
  • Prison Release Reoffender (PRR)

To discourage repeat offenders, and in an effort to reduce increasing crime rates, each classification of repeat offender could lead to a serious enhancement in penalties during sentencing.

The majority of these sentencing enhancements will be made at the discretion of the judge and can include additional time in prison, being deemed ineligible for an early release and more. For example, a 3rd degree HFO could face a sentence enhancement of up to 10 years in prison without any possibility of obtaining an early release during the 1st half of the sentence. A 1st degree HFO could be faced with life in prison.

HVFO and VCC sentencing are also done at the discretion of the judge and could lead to a significantly longer time in prison before being eligible for an early release. Sentencing for a PRR is mandatory however, and these individuals are not eligible for an early release. They will be required to serve 100% of their sentence.

If you are facing criminal accusations that could lead to being classified as a repeat offender, you will need a proven criminal defense lawyer fighting on your side. Attorney Michael Mirer is a former Miami-Dade County prosecutor who has first-hand experience with the tactics employed by the prosecution to convict repeat offenders and solicit enhanced sentences from the judge. His team is dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients and seeing that their interests are professionally represented. To increase your chances of avoiding sentence enhancements, contact the Law Office of Michael Mirer, P.A. today to retain powerful defense.