Dixie County Jail Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Dixie County Florida
Dixie County Criminal Court Basics: From Arrest to Sentencing in Cross City
Dixie County is a quiet stretch of Big Bend coastline, pine woods and fishing towns like Horseshoe Beach and Suwannee. Its courts are in Cross City, and it belongs to Florida’s Third Judicial Circuit along with Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties. Dixie has the same two trial courts every Florida county has. Dixie County Court gets the misdemeanors, the criminal traffic cases (a DUI on U.S. 19, for instance) and county ordinance violations. Dixie Circuit Court hears felonies and acts as the juvenile court for anyone under 18.
Court is held at the Dixie County Courthouse, 214 NE Highway 351, Cross City, FL 32628. Reach the Clerk of Court’s office at (352) 498-1200. The sheriff books adults into the Dixie County Jail, 386 NE 255th Street, Cross City.
Free case lookup: Dixie’s Clerk of the Circuit Court is one of the many small-county clerks on the Online Court Records Search, which is free. Select Dixie in the drop-down, hit Go, and search by the name of a person in the case, or by case number. Cross City case pages list charges, court dates and documents filed. Juvenile cases and records sealed by a judge stay private.
Federal court: Here’s a surprise: unlike Columbia and most of its other Third Circuit neighbors, Dixie falls under the Northern District of Florida. Federal charges from Cross City are heard by that court’s Gainesville Division at 401 SE First Avenue, Gainesville. Crimes become federal when they break a U.S. statute or take place on federal land. Along Dixie’s coast, the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is federal ground, so crimes like illegal hunting there can be prosecuted in Gainesville. Dixie’s many empty creeks and bays also made it a landing spot for drug-smuggling boats decades ago, and bringing drugs in by sea is still a federal crime the Coast Guard watches for. Federal prosecutors in Gainesville also take on fraud, big drug rings, and felons found with guns. There is no tribal reservation in Dixie County. Choose a part of the guide.
Immigration holds. In Dixie, an ICE detainer works like this:
- the Dixie bond judge must be told (F.S. 908.105)
- notice goes to the Dixie state attorney
- bond is still possible in Dixie
- the jail may hold them 48 more hours for ICE
- in Dixie, weekends and holidays count
- for Dixie forcible felony cases, unlawful status blocks Dixie release before first appearance (F.S. 907.041)
- at that point a Dixie judge presumes detention, but the Dixie defense can rebut it
Town courts. Dixie has no city or town courts. The 1972 Article V reform phased them out. In Dixie, a city ordinance case goes to Dixie County Court, which also hears misdemeanors.
- Dixie County Court: fishing and game violations, DUI, petit theft, simple battery
- Cross City felony court: meth possession and sales, burglary of a camp or home, grand theft
- Dixie’s heaviest charges: murder, sexual battery, robbery with a weapon, attacks causing serious injury
Dixie County Court: fishing and game violations, DUI, petit theft, simple battery
Misdemeanors are the minor crimes on Florida’s list. A Dixie deputy, a state wildlife officer or a trooper may issue a notice to appear, which is paperwork telling you when to show up at the Cross City courthouse. Get booked into the jail on 255th Street instead, and Florida guarantees you a look at a judge inside 24 hours, a hearing named first appearance. You hear the charge, the judge looks at whether you need a public lawyer, and pretrial release is decided: whether, and on what conditions, you wait for your Cross City trial at home. A Florida Supreme Court order effective January 1, 2026 makes every county use one bond schedule, with set minimums, for releases before first appearance. Some arrests, for example domestic violence, require a judge’s decision before you can leave. A bail bond agent usually charges 10% of the bond, $100 or more, and keeps it.
For a first-degree misdemeanor, a Dixie judge’s limit is twelve months of jail and a $1,000 fine. Second-degree offenses carry less: $500 and 60 days, tops. In Dixie, the State Attorney for the Third Circuit, elected by voters in all seven counties, prosecutes. Cross City defendants without money for a lawyer may be given the elected Third Circuit Public Defender, or Regional Conflict Counsel if there’s a conflict. Florida law lets the court charge a fee for that lawyer and turn an unpaid amount into a lien.
Prosecutors may offer a first offender pretrial diversion: finish the requirements, and the charge is dismissed. People who go to trial on a misdemeanor have a 90-day speedy-trial right starting at formal charging, unless waived. Six Dixie jurors decide the verdict.
Under 18: Dixie youths accused of misdemeanors land in front of a juvenile judge, who is part of the Circuit Court. Officers can offer a civil citation for many first-time offenses, so a teen pays back the community through service hours or counseling and walks away without an arrest record. Holding a youth in custody requires a detention hearing within 24 hours. Dixie kids who must be held ride to Gainesville; the Alachua regional center there, a state Department of Juvenile Justice lockup, takes youth from across the circuit.
Cross City felony court: meth possession and sales, burglary of a camp or home, grand theft
A felony can be punished by time in a state prison. Dixie felony cases start with first appearance, like misdemeanors. Then Third Circuit prosecutors read the reports and decide what to file. Their formal charge is called an information. The defendant answers it with a plea at an arraignment in Cross City. After that comes discovery, which is the exchange of evidence, along with hearings and plea talks.
Florida divides felonies by degree, and the degree caps the prison time. Third degree stops at 5 years, second at 15, first at 30. Life felonies and capital felonies come above those. Every Dixie felony sentence starts from a Criminal Punishment Code scoresheet that totals points for the crime and any record, producing the lowest sentence allowed. Florida prisoners then serve 85% of their terms, at minimum. Theft of $750 or more is grand theft, and breaking into a hunting camp or house is burglary, a felony.
Dixie felony defendants who want a quick trial can hold the state to 175 days from formal charging, unless they waive the rule. In Dixie, as in the rest of Florida, felony juries usually have six jurors. Twelve jurors serve only in capital cases.
Under 18: A Dixie teen’s felony case usually stays with the juvenile judge, who tries to steer the young person in a better direction, through probation, counseling or a juvenile program. The State Attorney can choose to “direct file” the case in adult court instead. That’s allowed for most felonies at ages 16 and 17. At 14 or 15, it is allowed only for the serious crimes named in Florida Statute 985.557, like robbery and home burglary.
Dixie’s heaviest charges: murder, sexual battery, robbery with a weapon, attacks causing serious injury
Violent cases in Cross City take the felony path described above, only with much bigger penalties waiting at the end. The judge can order someone held without bond if they’re considered dangerous. Guns trigger Florida’s 10-20-Life law in serious crimes. Possessing one means 10 years minimum, discharging it means 20, and a gunshot that kills or causes great bodily harm means 25 years at least, life at most. Sexual battery, Florida’s word for rape, can lead to life in prison.
Only a grand jury indictment can start a first-degree murder prosecution in Dixie. The penalty after conviction is death, or else life in prison without parole. Under a 2023 law, 8 of 12 jurors are enough for a death recommendation. The state keeps its condemned men at Raiford, inside Union Correctional Institution; condemned women are at Lowell Correctional Institution.
Victims in Dixie County have rights under Marsy’s Law, which is part of Florida’s Constitution. They can be informed of hearings, attend, and speak before the judge decides a sentence. Victim advocates with the Third Circuit State Attorney help them.
Under 18: Violent felony charges are where teens most often end up in adult court. Armed robbery makes direct file possible as young as 14. And Florida Statute 985.56 lets a Dixie grand jury indict a child, whatever the age, for an offense carrying death or life. No matter which court convicts them, Dixie teens who were 17 or younger when they acted are spared the death penalty.
Our aim is to give Cross City readers a general idea of the criminal court process; this is not legal advice. A lawyer can review any real case, or call the Dixie County Clerk at (352) 498-1200.
Criminal Court Process for Dixie County Florida
Dixie County Florida Criminal Court System - Definitions
It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Florida Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.
If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Dixie County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.
Arrest is when Florida, Dixie County, or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed.
In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Dixie County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.
Booking is when the Dixie County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation and verification of identity.
The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that press the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Florida, Dixie County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for the Dixie County or the district is called the State’s Attorney. A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.
Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case. For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case. If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime. Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.
Arraignment is when a judge determines whether the charges are supported by the prosecution’s initial evidence and tells the arrested what they are charged with, and the person says whether they are guilty or not guilty. At this time, the person is called the defendant, and the opposing side is called the prosecution. If there is reason to believe that the arrested is guilty, the judge will set bail conditions or send the defendant to jail or release them ROR (release on recognizances). An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.
Bail is money paid that is held by the Dixie County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. Bail amounts and other conditions are determined at the arraignment.
Once the case is over, the bail money is returned to the defendant. If a person does not pay bail, they remain in the Dixie County jail until their trial. Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail and of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule. When you are arrested, under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process and the defendant is eligible to bond out before going to court. Prior to January1, 2024, each county sets their own bond schedule, and the bond amount was set during booking.
During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. Jailors, law enforcement and prosecutors do not have authority to set bail, a judge or court officer in the Dixie County or municipal court sets bail. Judges in Florida rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
If someone is arrested for failure to appear or a violation of probation or a violation of pretrial release, there will be no granting of a bond even after first appearance court.
It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested. Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf (not all bond companies will accept collect calls), but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
(There have been phone scams to where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsman will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
All bonds in Florida are secured, meaning that the courts will not allow a personal recognizance bond as other states. A defendant can pay a cash bond however if the bond amount is less than $250, a bondsman will not handle it.
Surety Bond is the most common type of secured bond in Florida. It is when defendant pays 10 % of the bond amount to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed to do business in Florida. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than Florida.
Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted). This is handled by a bail bond company. Usually, the property must be in Dixie County and it must be worth 1 ½ or 2 times the bond amount. An appraisal of the property is required and everyone on the deed must sign.
Transfer Bonds are transferable across state lines but generally a bond company will only assume the loan to adjoining states. For a Florida resident arrested in another state, bond companies will do transfer bonds but the person putting up the security has to be a Florida resident.
A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest. If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases and certain appeal cases.
Everyone is appointed a public defender in Florida at first appearance court (unless you retain private counsel fast enough that they can appear). The $50 public defender fee gets tacked on to fees and costs once the case is ended. There are also several offices of conflict counsel that handle cases that the public defenders cannot represent due to a conflict of interest or special subject matter.
For less serious cases or civil cases, there are pro bono volunteers who volunteer legal services for free or for a small fee. They often will hold clinics to teach people how to represent themselves in court or expunge their record which means to legally erase or eliminate a criminal or arrest record from public view. This website provides contact information for pro bono services in Florida.
Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se. Here is a link for legal self-help centers in Florida.
A district court can refer to the first level of the legal system, or a minor court. District courts are located in the community. A district court can also refer to a U.S. Federal District Court that hears federal cases. There are three U.S. federal district courts in Florida, with offices throughout the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.
Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered. This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.
Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings. A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment. The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty. There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of more serious criminal related to the crime.
Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether if the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial. If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial. If the defendant is found non-guilty, they are released. If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.
Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.
Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court. If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.
Florida Felony vs Misdemeanor
In Florida, a misdemeanor is divided into two classes. Misdemeanor in the first degree that holds a punishment of a jail sentence up to 1 year and a fine up to $1000. Examples on a first-degree misdemeanor include DUI, simple assault, certain types of theft under $750 and possession of small amounts of controlled substances. Misdemeanor in the second degree holds a punishment of up to 60 days and a fine up to $500. Examples of second-degree misdemeanor include petty theft, disorderly conduct and certain types of trespassing.
A felony crime is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and are divided into different classes which are general guidelines and are based on the crime, prior criminal history and other factors. Examples of felony crimes are murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft. In Florida, the classes of felonies are capital felony, life felony, felony of the first degree, second degree and third degree.
The Dixie County Clerk of Court is an elected official whose responsibilities for Criminal Court’s administrative issues include receiving criminal warrants, receiving bail, creating the trial schedule, receiving fees, fines and maintaining court records.
A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement. There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime.
A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date. It does not involve an arrest. A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.
A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.
Fines are usually paid to the District Court or Dixie County Clerk of Court and payment methods can be found on the District Court or County Clerk of Court website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, have to pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest. It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket.
Florida Criminal Court System - How it Works
In Florida, the courts system is made up of county courts, circuit courts, district courts of appeal and one Supreme Court. Florida does not have municipal courts. It is important that you get the address of the court that you are to appear at because going to the wrong courthouse is not always an accepted excuse for not showing to court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.
County courts are in each county of Florida and some call them misdemeanor or traffic court. County court handles all misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases. Most counties have their own traffic citation courts.
Circuit courts only hear felony cases. Many cases are heard by a single judge. First appearance court is handled by a single judge in most circuits or it is rotated among all the circuit judges. Also, some circuits have one judge that handles just violations of probation, one judge that handles just post-conviction matters, one judge that handles only capital cases and specialty courts.
Juvenile cases are heard in circuit court. Most counties/circuits have their own juvenile court divisions. The following web page describes services and resources for Florida’s juvenile justice.
Specialty courts or problem-solving courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Florida offers problem-solving courts solutions throughout the state that offer attention to the following areas: adult drug use, juvenile drug use, dependency, DUI, mental health and veteran court.
District courts of appeal conduct review of cases on appeal from county and circuit courts.
Tribal Court is available for the Seminole Tribe.
The Florida Supreme Court is like our United States’ Supreme Court because it has a panel of judges that rule on matters that have to do with someone’s constitutional rights or policies and laws. The Florida State Supreme Court deals with the state constitution or laws or policies. Sometimes the Supreme Court will hear criminal cases on appeal when there is question on the state laws or procedures that lead to the appeal.
The criminal cases are usually referred from the district courts of appeal.
FEDERAL COURT
Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws. Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.
Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime.
There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Florida state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).
Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.
There are three U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Florida.
