Free legal tool · Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.130, 3.134, 3.160, 3.191
What happens after a Florida arrest? A personalized timeline.
Enter the arrest date and case type. We calculate every Florida statutory deadline — bond hearing, DHSMV demand, arraignment, speedy trial — from the actual rules of criminal procedure.
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Enter the arrest date and case type. Every deadline below is calculated from the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Florida criminal case timeline — frequently asked questions
›How long after a Florida arrest is the first court date?
Within 24 hours of arrest, the defendant must be brought before a magistrate for a first appearance (also called a bond hearing) under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.130. In Broward, this happens at the Main Jail magistrate court, 555 SE 1st Ave, Fort Lauderdale; in Miami-Dade, at the Pre-Trial Detention Center, 1321 NW 13th St. The judge sets bond, no-contact orders, and other release conditions at this hearing.
›What is the Florida speedy trial rule?
Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.191, the State must bring you to trial within 90 days for misdemeanors and 175 days for felonies, measured from the date of arrest. If the State does not, the defense can file a Notice of Expiration of Speedy Trial, after which the State has a 15-day "recapture" window to commence trial.
›When does the State Attorney decide whether to file charges?
For in-custody defendants, Florida Rule 3.134 requires the State to file an Information (formal charging document), file a no-information, or seek an extension within 33 days of arrest. For out-of-custody defendants, the practical window is about 40 days. This pre-filing window is the highest-leverage time to negotiate a no-file (declination to prosecute).
›What is the 10-day rule for a Florida DUI?
Under Florida § 322.2615, a driver arrested for DUI has 10 days from the arrest date to demand a formal review hearing with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). Missing this 10-day deadline results in automatic license suspension — 6 months for a breath reading over .08, 1 year for a refusal. This deadline is completely separate from anything that happens in criminal court.
›How long does a criminal case take in Broward or Miami-Dade?
Most Broward and Miami-Dade misdemeanor cases resolve within 90–180 days; felony cases typically take 6–12 months. Federal cases in the Southern District of Florida (which covers both counties) often take 12–24 months. The actual timeline depends on case complexity, the court division, motion practice, and whether the case goes to trial.
›Do I need a lawyer before arraignment?
It is highly advisable. The pre-arraignment period is when the State decides whether to file and what to file. A defense attorney engaged before arraignment can submit a declination request, file early discovery demands, and (in DUI cases) handle the DHSMV formal review hearing — all of which can change the trajectory of the case.