Rule 8.045 - NOTICE TO APPEAR(a) Definition. A notice to appear, unless indicated otherwise, means a written order issued by a law enforcement officer or authorized agent of the department, in lieu of taking a child into custody or detaining a child, which requires a child accused of violating the law to appear in a designated court or governmental office at a specified date and time. The notice must indicate whether appearance via communication technology is permitted.(b)By Arresting Officer. If a child is taken into custody for a violation of law and the officer elects to release the child as provided by law to a parent, responsible adult relative, or legal guardian, a notice to appear may be issued to the child by the officer unless: (1) the child fails or refuses to sufficiently identify himself or herself or supply the required information;(2) the child refuses to sign the notice to appear;(3) the officer has reason to believe that the continued liberty of the child constitutes an unreasonable risk of bodily injury to the child or others;(4) the child has no ties with the jurisdiction reasonably sufficient to ensure an appearance or there is substantial risk that the child will refuse to respond to the notice;(5) the officer has any suspicion that the child may be wanted in any jurisdiction; or(6) it appears that the child has previously failed to respond to a notice or a summons or has violated the conditions of any pretrial release program.(c)By Departmental Agent. If a child is taken into custody by an authorized agent of the department as provided by law, or if an authorized agent of the department takes custody of a child from a law enforcement officer and the child is not detained, the agent shall issue a notice to appear to the child upon the child's release to a parent, responsible adult relative, or legal guardian.(d)How and When Served. If a notice to appear is issued, 6 copies shall be prepared. One copy of the notice shall be delivered to the child and 1 copy shall be delivered to the person to whom the child is released. In order to secure the child's release, the child and the person to whom the child is released shall give their written promise that the child will appear as directed in the notice by signing the remaining copies. One copy is to be retained by the issuer and 3 copies are to be filed with the clerk of the court.(e) Distribution of Copies. The clerk shall deliver 1 copy of the notice to appear to the state attorney and 1 copy to the department and shall retain 1 copy in the court's file.(f)Contents. A notice to appear shall contain the following information: (1) the name and address of the child and the person to whom the child was released;(2) the date of the offense(s);(3) the offense(s) charged by statute and municipal ordinance, if applicable;(4) the counts of each offense;(5) the time and place where the child is to appear;(6) the name and address of the trial court having jurisdiction to try the offense(s) charged; (7) the name of the arresting officer or authorized agent of the department; and(8) the signatures of the child and the person to whom the child was released.(g)Failure to Appear. When a child signs a written notice to appear and fails to respond to the notice, an order to take into custody shall be issued. The court shall not issue an order to take into custody for a child in the care or custody of the state unless the court has information that the child willfully failed to appear.(h)Form of Notice. The notice to appear shall be substantially as found in form 8.930.Amended effective 7/1/2023; amended by 47 Fla. L. Weekly S188, effective 10/1/2022; amended by 258 So.3d 1254, effective 1/1/2019; amended by 939 So.2d 74, effective 1/1/2007; amended by 608 So.2d 478, effective 1/1/1993; added by 589 So.2d 818, effective 7/1/1991; amended by 462 So.2d 399, effective 1/1/1985; amended by 393 So.2d 1077, effective 1/1/1981.Committee Notes
1991 Adoption. This rule allows juveniles to be released with definite notice as to when they must return to court. This should help decrease the number of juveniles held in detention centers awaiting a court date. It also should provide a mechanism to divert juveniles to programs more efficiently. The change also should decrease the number of summons issued by the clerk.
1992 Amendment. A summons is not sworn but the arrest affidavit that is filed with the notice to appear is sworn. The notice to appear, which is more like a summons, does not need to be sworn.