St. Johns County Jail Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for St. Johns County Florida
St. Johns County Criminal Court in Everyday Words
St. Augustine is America’s oldest city, but its criminal courts work like every other Florida county’s. Two trial courts share the work. St. Johns County Court takes misdemeanors, criminal traffic cases like a DUI on A1A, and local ordinance violations. St. Johns Circuit Court takes felonies and all juvenile delinquency cases (crimes by kids under 18). St. Johns belongs to the Seventh Judicial Circuit, alongside Volusia, Flagler and Putnam counties.
Adult and youth criminal cases are both heard at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center, 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084. The Clerk of Court keeps staff in that building too; the number is (904) 819-3600. Arrests in Ponte Vedra, Hastings, St. Augustine Beach, and the rest of St. Johns go to the St. Johns County Detention Center, 3955 Lewis Speedway, run by the Sheriff.
Free case lookup: The St. Johns Clerk posts a free Court Records Search. Enter a name or case number to pull up the docket, meaning the running list of St. Johns filings and hearings. Juvenile records, sealed cases and private details stay hidden from the public.
Federal court: For federal purposes, St. Johns County falls in the Middle District of Florida’s Jacksonville Division. The Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse stands about 40 miles north at 300 North Hogan Street in Jacksonville (ZIP 32202). Here is the simple rule. A crime against Florida law goes to the Watson center on Lewis Speedway. A crime against a law passed by Congress, or one committed on federal property, can go to Jacksonville instead. St. Johns has two famous pieces of national park land: the Castillo de San Marcos, the old Spanish stone fort on the bayfront, and Fort Matanzas to the south. Damaging those forts or committing a crime on their grounds can be a federal case. Federal agents also chase cocaine or marijuana run ashore by boat between Ponte Vedra and Crescent Beach, mail and wire scams, and convicted felons caught holding guns. No tribal reservation exists in St. Johns County. Jump to a section.
Immigration holds. How St. Johns handles an ICE detainer:
- F.S. 908.105 requires telling the St. Johns bond judge
- St. Johns prosecutors are told as well
- a St. Johns judge can still set bond
- ICE gets up to 48 extra hours
- St. Johns counts weekends and holidays in that time
- for St. Johns forcible felony cases, unlawful status blocks St. Johns release before first appearance (F.S. 907.041)
- after that hearing, St. Johns judges start from detention, though St. Johns defense lawyers can rebut it
Town courts. Since 1972 Article V changes, St. Johns has had no city courts. Any St. Johns city ordinance case is heard in St. Johns County Court instead, alongside misdemeanors.
- St. Johns misdemeanors: open-container and underage drinking arrests downtown, DUI, petit theft, battery
- St. Johns felonies: burglary in new subdivisions, grand theft, fentanyl and cocaine sales, fleeing police
- St. Johns violent felonies: murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, attacks with a weapon
St. Johns misdemeanors: open-container and underage drinking arrests downtown, DUI, petit theft, battery
A St. Johns deputy or St. Augustine officer may cite you and let you go with a written notice to appear in court. Booked at Lewis Speedway instead? Then rule 3.130 entitles you to a quick court hearing, first appearance, inside 24 hours. Starting January 1, 2026, the Florida Supreme Court’s statewide bond schedule (AOSC25-69) fixes a minimum bond for each charge before that hearing, and the Seventh Circuit may set higher amounts. Some charges, including domestic battery, mean no release until a judge looks at the case. Bond is basically money held by the court so you show up. St. Augustine bondsmen will post it for you, keeping a state-set 10% fee (the floor is $100) whatever happens later.
Voters across the four Seventh Circuit counties choose one State Attorney; that office files every St. Johns charge, from beach DUIs to homicides. St. Johns voters also elect a Public Defender, whose office is appointed if a judge finds the defendant cannot hire a lawyer. Conflicts push the St. Johns client to Regional Counsel, Florida’s backup public law office. Under Florida Statute 938.29, St. Johns judges can make a convicted defendant pay back what the appointed lawyer cost, and the unpaid amount may be recorded as a lien.
Florida misdemeanors carry two penalty levels. First degree: twelve months, tops, at the Lewis Speedway jail, plus as much as $1,000. Second degree: no more than 60 days and $500. Ninety days after formal charges are filed is the speedy-trial limit for these, though defendants often agree to more time. A St. Johns misdemeanor jury has six members. Many first-time offenders are offered pretrial diversion. Finish every requirement, and prosecutors dismiss the case.
Under 18: St. Johns juvenile cases go to a Circuit judge who handles the youth docket at the Watson center. A teen caught for a first small offense in St. Johns is often steered into a civil citation (Statute 985.12) that trades an arrest for volunteer hours or counseling. A St. Johns child needing secure custody goes to the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Daytona Beach, a state Department of Juvenile Justice site. A detention hearing follows within 24 hours.
St. Johns felonies: burglary in new subdivisions, grand theft, fentanyl and cocaine sales, fleeing police
A felony is a crime where the possible punishment includes state prison. The first steps match the misdemeanor path: booking at the Lewis Speedway jail, then first appearance, where the judge decides about pretrial release, meaning whether you can leave jail before the case is over and on what conditions. Next, a St. Johns assistant state attorney studies the deputies’ reports; if the evidence holds up, the prosecutor signs an information, the document that officially starts a St. Johns felony case. You plead at the arraignment, and both sides swap evidence in a stage called discovery.
Florida’s felony ladder has several rungs. Third degree means a cap of 5 years. Second degree, which covers burglary of an occupied house, means a cap of 15 years. First degree means a cap of 30 years. Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code uses a scoresheet that totals points for the crime, any victim injury and past convictions, which tells the St. Johns judge the shortest prison sentence allowed. People in Florida prisons must serve 85% of their time at minimum.
The 175-day speedy-trial window for felonies is usually waived by St. Johns defense lawyers who need time. A St. Johns jury of six decides, and all must agree.
Under 18: Most St. Johns teens charged with felonies stay on the juvenile side, where supervision, treatment and school come first. However, Florida Statute 985.557 gives the State Attorney the power to direct file, or charge a teen as an adult. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds can be moved that way for almost any felony. Younger teens, 14 or 15, can be moved only for crimes on the statute’s list, armed robbery being one. Since 2019, Florida law never forces adult charges; it’s left to the prosecutor.
St. Johns violent felonies: murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, attacks with a weapon
Violent crime cases in St. Johns County take the same route through the Watson center, but the possible punishments are the harshest in Florida law. Above first-degree felonies sit life felonies and capital felonies. A capital crime like first-degree murder carries only two choices: death or life without parole. A judge can refuse any bond when the proof is evident for a crime punishable by life or death.
Florida’s 10-20-Life rule in Statute 775.087 adds minimum prison terms when guns are involved in serious felonies. Possessing the gun: 10 years. Firing it: 20 years. Killing or badly hurting someone with it: 25 years to life.
When the State Attorney seeks a death sentence, a full 12-person jury weighs the punishment. Thanks to a 2023 law, a recommendation of death needs only eight votes. Florida keeps men sentenced to death at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, roughly an hour’s drive west of the Castillo; women are held at Lowell Correctional Institution in Marion County.
Anyone hurt by a St. Johns crime can lean on Marsy’s Law, found in Section 16(b) of Article I of Florida’s constitution. Victims are told when hearings are scheduled, may sit in on them, and can address the judge before any plea or sentence. Seventh Circuit victim advocates explain each of those rights.
Under 18: Statute 985.56 also lets a St. Johns grand jury indict, or officially accuse, a child of any age if the charge is one Florida punishes with death or life; that teen then faces trial as an adult. Execution is off the table for anyone younger than 18 on the day of the crime, and juvenile life sentences require a special hearing first.
One reminder: this St. Johns County overview is for learning only and isn’t legal advice. A criminal defense lawyer can weigh in on your particular facts; for records, call the St. Johns County Clerk at (904) 819-3600.
Criminal Court Process for St. Johns County Florida
St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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, St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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, St. Johns County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for the St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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.
