Many Tampa criminal defense attorneys are constantly asked by their clients about what someone’s criminal score is with regards to their Florida scoresheet. If you have checked out our Tampa criminal defense attorney blog, we discuss at length what all is involved in the calculation of a score. Our Tampa criminal defense attorney blog has ample information elsewhere about the exact calculations that go into a score, the available enhancements, etc. If you have any specific questions about your scoresheet or any of the statutory enhancements, please do not hesitate to contact our office or check out the portion of our website devoted solely to Florida Sentencing. Florida Statute Section 921.0024 provides the guidelines for calculating the majority of the issues associated with a criminal score or scoresheet, we have included a link for your convenience.
It is important first to discuss what exactly a criminal score means. Many individuals believe unfortunately that this is the required sentence the judge must give. Simply put, nothing could be farther from the truth. One’s criminal score simply provides the bottom of the potential, legal sentence from a judge. For example, if someone scores 32 months on a third degree felony, a legal sentence from the judge would be anything from 32 months to 60 months (representing the statutory maximum of five years). This is incredibly frustrating and confusing for many criminal defendants. Many folks simply believe the sentencing judge or the State Attorney’s Office must sentence them precisely to their score. This is why you will often hear an offer from the State Attorney’s Office being referred to as “bottom of the guidelines.” This is why many Tampa criminal defense attorneys refer to Florida’s sentencing structure as “topless” since a range isn’t provided like the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The only top is literally the statutory maximum on the charge.
As we discuss throughout our Tampa criminal defense attorney blog, it is critical to have a thorough understanding of your scoresheet and criminal score prior to making determinations as to whether go to trial or enter a plea with the State Attorney’s Office. We have deal with all aspects of a scoresheet, including working with the State Attorney’s Office to more properly reflect the facts of the case within the scoresheet. If you know someone dealing with a Florida scoresheet issue, contact the Tampa criminal defense attorneys of Hackworth Law for a free case consultation. We have handled a wide variety of criminal issues and offer free case consultations. If you would like to speak with one of our Tampa criminal defense attorneys immediately, please use the “contact us now” tab in the upper right hand corner of our website. Thank you for taking the time to check out our Tampa criminal defense attorney blog, we look forward to working with you.