Adult Civil Citation Program
Program Description
Adult civil citations aim to keep people who commit certain non-violent misdemeanor offenses out of the court system and avoid an arrest record if they complete a formal program.
In this prearrest program, Florida Statute 901.41 gives law enforcement agencies the sole discretion on whether to issue an adult civil citation or arrest an individual. If a civil citation is issued, the State Attorney’s Office will review the case and make the final determination on a person’s eligibility to participate in the Adult Civil Citation Program (ACCP).
Adults who are issued a civil citation and accepted into the program must:
- Pay a $100 program fee
- Pay the cost of any educational course
- Complete crime-specific education programs
- Complete community service hours
Successful completion of the ACCP will result in the State not filing charges and closing the individual’s case.
A person must be referred to the program by a participating law enforcement agency and cannot have a criminal conviction or civil citation history to be eligible for the ACCP.
The following criteria must also be met:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Have not been arrested 3 times or received any adult civil citation or other similar prearrest diversion program notice
- Individual must agree to participate in the ACCP
- There is probable cause to believe the person committed a qualifying offense
- Individual must wave speedy trial
- Individual must admit he or she committed the offense or does not contest the offense
- Be a United States Citizen, legal resident or visitor
- Have photo identification or can be otherwise identified by a participating law enforcement agency
- Have a valid phone number, email or physical address
- Individual must waive statute of limitations
The following misdemeanor offenses are eligible for participation in the ACCP:
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Possession of Marijuana Less Than 20 Grams
- Retail Theft of a Shopping Cart
- Trespass on Property Other Than a Structure or Conveyance
- Trespass in a Structure or Conveyance
- Petit Theft
- Criminal Mischief
- Disorderly Conduct
- Disorderly Intoxication
- Littering
- Possession of Alcohol by Person Over 18 to 21 Years of Age
- Fish and Wildlife Commission Violations
- Any misdemeanor criminal traffic offense excluding a traffic offense for leaving the scene of an accident, racing, reckless driving, reckless driving alcohol related or driving under the influence (DUI)
- Any misdemeanor criminal municipal or county ordinance violation except any violation that involves exposure of sexual organs or other sexually related behavior, i.e., lewd and lascivious behavior.
- Any other misdemeanor offense deemed appropriate by the law enforcement agency and the State Attorney’s Office
Misdemeanor criminal offenses are not eligible for participation in the ACCP if they:
- Meet the definition of a violent misdemeanor
- Are a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in Florida Statute 741.28
- Are a misdemeanor under s. 741.29, s. 741.31, s. 784.046, s. 784.047, s. 784.048, s. 784.0487, or s. 784.049 Florida Statues
- Victim requests restitution
- Are misdemeanor criminal traffic offenses involving leaving the scene of an accident, racing, reckless driving, reckless driving alcohol-related or driving under the influence (DUI)
- Are a misdemeanor criminal municipal or county ordinance violation involving exposure of sexual organs or other sexually related behavior, i.e., lewd and lascivious behavior
Adults issued a civil citation must fill out an application on the Advent eLearning website. There should be a QR Code on the bottom of the citation provided by law enforcement. Be prepared to provide a copy of your citation or the citation number. The State Attorney’s Office will evaluate each case to determine eligibility. The individual will receive an update on their application via Advent eLearning.
Program participants will have 90 days from the date their application was approved by the State Attorney’s Office to complete the Adult Civil Citation Program requirements.
Florida Statute 901.41 gives law enforcement agencies the sole discretion on whether to issue an adult civil citation or arrest an individual.
If you are approved for the ACCP, you will receive an email notification from Advent eLearning with your account login credentials. You will have 90 days from the date you were approved to complete your program assignments.
If your case is rejected from the ACCP, you will receive an email from the State Attorney’s Office notifying you that your case was rejected and what the next steps will be.
Individuals should reach out to the law enforcement agency that issued the civil citation and request a copy. Once you have acquired a copy of your civil citation, please scan and upload a photo of the citation and send it to AdultCivilCitation@sao9.org.
If you successfully complete the program either by or before the program deadline, the State Attorney’s Office will decline to prosecute your case and you will not be required to appear in court.
The State Attorney’s Office will administer the individual’s Adult Civil Citation Program on the Advent eLearning website. Additionally, the State Attorney’s Office works with several local service providers to provide educational courses and counseling.
You can complete your required community service hours at any non-profit organization. Click here for a list of suggested locations.
ACCP participants will be responsible for pay a $100 program fee, $25 Crimeline donation fee, and, if applicable, a cost of investigation fee. Participants are also responsible for the cost of any educational courses they are required to complete.
If a person is accepted into the Civil Citation Program and violates any of the rules of the program, their case will be rejected from the Adult Civil Citation Program and forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
If an ACCP participant successfully completes the program the State will not file charges and will close the case.
If an ACCP participant fails to complete all ACCP requirements within the given time frame their case will be forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
If it is later determined that an ACCP participant has a prior criminal record or two prior civil citations in Florida or any other state, they will be removed from the program and their case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office.
Participation in the ACCP does not waive any victim’s right to pursue civil fines in accordance with Florida Statutes.
Program extension requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. All requests to extend must be made prior to the participant’s due date. All program extension requests made after the due date will be denied.
ACCP Programs
Click on the available Adult Civil Citation Programs below to explore each program and program requirements.
