29.18 FAILURE TO APPEAR
Official jury instruction text reproduced for information. It is not legal advice; the instruction given in a case depends on the facts and the court.
- Instruction
- 29.18
- Statute
- § 843.15, Fla. Stat.
- Edition
- Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, complete set published by The Florida Bar, updated October 9, 2026
- Official source
- The Florida Bar: criminal jury instructions
Elements
Quoted word for word from the official text. Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, complete set published by The Florida Bar, updated October 9, 2026.
To prove the crime of Failure to Appear, the State must prove the following three elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
1. (Defendant) was released from custody pursuant to Chapter 903, Florida’s bail statute.
2. (Defendant) was released
Give as applicable.
a. in connection with a felony charge.
b. in connection with a misdemeanor charge.
c. while awaiting sentencing.
d. pending review by certiorari after conviction of an offense.
3. After [his] [her] release, (defendant) willfully failed to appear as required for (insert name of proceeding, e.g. docket sounding, trial, sentencing) before a [court] [judicial officer].
Lesser-included offenses
As the instruction lists them, word for word.
FAILURE TO APPEAR — 843.15
| CATEGORY ONE | CATEGORY TWO | FLA. STAT. | INS. NO. |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | |||
| Attempt | 777.04(1) | 5.1 |
Related practice page
Failure to Appear, Bail Jumping, and Ankle-Monitor Tampering in Miami
Official source: The Florida Bar: criminal jury instructions
Official jury instruction text reproduced for information. It is not legal advice; the instruction given in a case depends on the facts and the court.