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Florida Criminal Offense

Resisting Officer With Violence

Knowingly and willfully resisting, obstructing, or opposing a legally authorized person by offering or doing violence.

FelonyThird Degree

Florida Statute

§ 843.01

Resisting officer with violence

Quick Summary

The officer or other listed person must be executing legal process or engaged in lawful execution of a legal duty.

Classification Matrix

Use this as a quick classification reference. Specific facts, statutory circumstances, and charging allegations may affect the applicable result.

Resisting With Violence

F.S. § 843.01

FelonyThird Degree

Knowing and willful resistance by offering or doing violence during lawful execution of a legal duty.

Elements of the Offense

  1. Element 1

    The defendant knowingly and willfully resisted, obstructed, or opposed a person described by the statute.

    Plain language: The person must be legally authorized under the statute.

  2. Element 2

    The defendant offered or did violence while that person was executing legal process or lawfully executing a legal duty.

    Plain language: Violence and lawful-duty status distinguish this charge from nonviolent resisting.

Jury Instructions

Instruction 21.1

Resisting Officer With Violence

Florida Standard Jury Instruction for F.S. § 843.01.

View Official Instruction

Additional Notes

Important

Record the legal duty or process, the officer's identity and authority, the defendant's conduct, and the specific offer or act of violence.