Osceola County Correctional Facility Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Osceola County Florida
Osceola County Criminal Court: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you or someone you care about is facing a charge in Kissimmee, St. Cloud or anywhere else in Osceola County, it helps to know which court is which. Florida splits the work between two trial courts. Osceola County Court hears misdemeanors, criminal traffic cases (like driving with no valid license) and ordinance violations. Osceola Circuit Court hears felonies and cases about kids under 18. Osceola and Orange County together form the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases here are heard at the Osceola County Courthouse, 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741. The Clerk of the Circuit Court answers felony, misdemeanor and bond questions at (407) 742-3500. Arrested adults are booked into the jail operated by the Osceola County Corrections Department. Our bail guide and inmate search cover the other steps.
Free court records: The Osceola Clerk offers an online court records search at no cost. You can type a last and first name, or enter a case number, to find dockets (lists of everything filed), charges and court dates. Juvenile cases, sealed files and personal identifiers like bank account numbers are kept out of public view.
Federal court for Osceola: Charges brought under national law land in the Middle District of Florida. Its Orlando Division judges work in downtown Orlando at the George C. Young federal courthouse, 401 West Central Boulevard. The basic rule: if you break a Florida law, the state handles it. If you break a national law, or the crime involves federal land, federal money or more than one state, federal agents and prosecutors may step in. In Osceola that could be a scheme to cheat tourists through the mail or internet, passport or immigration fraud, counterfeit money, smuggling drugs along Florida’s Turnpike or I-4, or threats against a federal officer. Osceola has no tribal reservation and no large military base. Choose a section below.
Immigration holds. Key Osceola facts on ICE detainers:
- the Osceola bond judge must be told (F.S. 908.105)
- notice goes to the Osceola state attorney
- Osceola bond can still be granted
- ICE may keep the person up to 48 hours past release
- those hours in Osceola include weekends and holidays
- F.S. 907.041: in Osceola, an unauthorized alien facing an Osceola forcible felony charge stays in the Osceola jail until first appearance
- at that point an Osceola judge presumes detention, but the Osceola defense can rebut it
Town courts. Looking for an Osceola town court? There is none. Florida's 1972 Article V reform did away with Osceola town courts, so Osceola city ordinance cases go to Osceola County Court.
- Smaller crimes in County Court: retail theft, DUI, battery, no valid license
- Osceola felony charges: car theft, home burglary, drug trafficking, fraud
- Crimes of violence: homicide, carjacking, sexual battery, attempted murder
- Who holds warrants from the Kissimmee courthouse?
1. Smaller crimes in County Court: retail theft, DUI, battery, no valid license
Plenty of Osceola misdemeanor cases start with a piece of paper, not handcuffs. A deputy or officer can write a notice to appear, which tells you when to show up in court. Once someone is booked in Osceola, the clock starts: Florida's court rules say a judge must see them within a day. This meeting is the first appearance, and it often happens by video from the jail. The statewide bond schedule, set by the Florida Supreme Court and in effect since January 2026, lists the smallest bond the jail can accept for each kind of charge before the judge weighs in. People arrested for certain charges, including domestic violence, must stay until a judge sees them.
At first appearance the judge chooses the conditions for pretrial release, meaning how you can stay free while the case goes on. Osceola options: a promise to return, a money bond, or a condition like no contact with the alleged victim. A bail bondsman, who must hold a state license, generally charges a nonrefundable 10% fee with a $100 floor.
There are two misdemeanor grades. A first-degree misdemeanor, such as simple battery or petit theft of $100 to $750, can lead to 12 months locked up and a $1,000 fine at most. A second-degree misdemeanor, like taking store items worth less than $100, tops out at 60 days and $500. First DUIs are handled under their own law with jail of up to six months, fines, DUI school and a lost license.
The elected State Attorney of the Ninth Circuit brings the case against you for the State of Florida. A judge who finds you can’t pay for a lawyer may appoint one from the elected Public Defender’s office. A conflict, such as two people charged together, means one defendant is represented by an attorney from Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, which handles those overflow cases. Under Florida law, a judge can make you pay back part of the cost of a court-appointed lawyer, and the debt can attach to property as a lien. Diversion programs give some first-time defendants a chance to finish classes or service hours and have the charge dropped. Unless you waive it, your trial should come within 90 days, in front of a six-person jury.
Under 18: Young people accused of misdemeanors don’t go to County Court. They go to juvenile court, a part of Circuit Court. For many first offenses, police can issue a civil citation instead, which lets the teen finish community service or other tasks without an arrest record. A youth who is taken into custody sees a judge within 24 hours. Osceola has no state youth detention center of its own; held youths are usually driven to the regional center the Department of Juvenile Justice runs in Orlando, on South Bumby Avenue.
2. Osceola felony charges: car theft, home burglary, drug trafficking, fraud
Osceola felonies can bring over a year in state prison. Once first appearance is over, prosecutors decide whether to file formal charges, written up in a document called an information. If you’re in jail and nothing has been filed after 30 days, the court rules give you a way to ask the judge for release. Next is arraignment in Circuit Court, where you plead, and then pretrial hearings where lawyers trade evidence.
Here are the maximum prison terms in Florida: 5 years for a third-degree felony, 15 for a second-degree felony and 30 for a first-degree felony. A few crimes rank as life felonies. Stealing a car is grand theft. Breaking into a house while someone is living there counts as second-degree burglary. Drug trafficking, which means having a large amount of a drug, comes with mandatory minimum prison time that rises with the weight.
Sentences follow the Criminal Punishment Code. A worksheet called a scoresheet adds points for the charge and any record, and the total shows the lowest legal sentence. Anyone who goes to prison in Florida must finish 85% of the term before release. Six jurors hear an Osceola felony, and unless it is waived, the trial deadline is 175 days after formal charging.
Under 18: Most teen felonies are handled in juvenile court, which can order probation, counseling or placement in a residential program. Under Florida law, prosecutors may move 16- and 17-year-olds into adult court for most felonies. Kids aged 14 or 15 can be moved too, though only when the charge is on a specific list of serious crimes, like robbery, armed burglary or carjacking.
3. Crimes of violence: homicide, carjacking, sexual battery, attempted murder
Violent felony cases move through the same Kissimmee courtrooms, but often more slowly and with more at stake. After a pretrial detention hearing requested by the state, the judge may keep the accused jailed with no bond at all when the community needs protection. Carjacking while armed is punishable by up to life in prison. When a gun is involved in a serious felony, the 10-20-Life law sets mandatory floors. Having the gun during the crime brings a minimum of 10 years. Firing it brings 20. A shot that badly hurts or kills someone brings at least 25 years, with life possible.
For a capital case like first-degree murder, prosecutors need an indictment, which is a formal charge approved by a grand jury. The outcome is either life in prison with no parole or death. The trial jury has 12 people, and since 2023 a recommendation of death needs only 8 of their votes. Condemned men wait in Raiford, at Union Correctional Institution. Women with death sentences go to Lowell Correctional Institution, north of Ocala.
The state constitution also contains Marsy’s Law, a list of rights for people hurt by crime. A victim can get updates, sit in the courtroom, and speak up before a plea deal or sentence. Victim advocates with the prosecutor can explain each step.
Under 18: A child of any age can be sent to adult court if grand jurors return an indictment on a charge punishable by death or a life term. Even then, no one can receive the death penalty for something they did before age 18. Teens under adult charges can be kept separate from grown-up prisoners.
4. Who holds warrants from the Kissimmee courthouse?
People who plan ahead usually surrender at the Osceola County Correctional Facility on Simpson Road, with a lawyer calling ahead. Ninth Circuit warrant records are kept by the Sheriff's Office, reachable at (407) 348-2222. Through the clerk's website you can open case files that mark a capias. Suite 2000 on Courthouse Square resets court dates, and St. Cloud, Celebration and Poinciana cases are handled by those same clerks. Beyond the county, FDLE supplies a statewide wanted persons search of released warrants.
We wrote this Osceola County overview to explain the basics in plain words. It is not legal advice. If a case affects you, a criminal defense lawyer can help, or you can call the Osceola Clerk of the Circuit Court at (407) 742-3500.
Criminal Court Process for Osceola County Florida
Osceola 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 Osceola 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, Osceola 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 Osceola 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 Osceola 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, Osceola County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for the Osceola 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 Osceola 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 Osceola 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 Osceola 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 Osceola 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 Osceola 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 Osceola 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.
