The Felony Department of the Circuit Court handles any criminal offense that is punishable under Florida Laws, or that would be punishable if committed in the State of Florida, by death or imprisonment in a state penitentiary. A person shall be imprisoned in the state penitentiary for each sentence, which, except for an extended term, exceeds one (1) year. Felony charges include Murder, Manslaughter, Burglary, Grand Theft, Kidnapping, Forgery and Uttering, Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Child Abuse, Sexual Battery, and Worthless Checks. Felonies are classified for purposes of sentencing into the following categories: Capitol Felony Life Felony Felony of the first degree Felony of the second degree Felony of the third degree

What happens after an arrest on a felony charge and I am released from the Levy County Jail? The Clerk's Office receives the initial paperwork from the Levy County Jail after a felony arrest. The Felony Department prepares the official court file, including the original arrest document as well as any release form. This information is then forwarded to the Office of the State Attorney. The State Attorney then reviews the case and makes the determination to file or not to file charges. How will I know when to come to court? When formal charges are filed with the Clerk's Office you will be notified by mail of an arraignment date. If you bonded out of jail, your bondsman will be notified as well. All notices will be sent to the address that was given at the time of arrest. What if I have a change of address? If you move, it is your responsibility to notify the Clerk's Office in writing. Mail us at the address listed in the left-hand column of this page, Attn: Felony Department. What is an arraignment? An arraignment is a hearing where the defendant is advised of the formal charges filed by the State Attorney and is allowed to enter a plea to the charges. At the arraignment, a pretrial date and possibly a trial date will be set. Can I change my court date after notification? The Clerk's office cannot change your court date for you. Please contact your attorney to help you with this problem. What happens if I fail to appear for my court date? Failure to appear may result in serious consequences. A felony judge may issue a warrant for your arrest. You may forfeit any bond that you have posted, thus loosing money or collateral. If you are arrested for failure to appear you may be held in the Levy County Jail without bond. Can anyone attend a criminal proceeding? All felony sessions are public unless a Judge closes certain proceedings. Spectators are expected to dress and behave themselves properly while in attendance at any court sessions. No tank tops or shorts are allowed in any courtrooms. Pagers and cellular telephones are to be turned off while in the courtrooms. What if I've been subpoenaed as a witness on a felony case? A subpoena is traditionally defined as a command to appear at a certain time and place to give testimony regarding a certain matter. Testimony is normally given at a court of law before a judge or hearing officer, or by deposition, in the presence of a court reporter. If you are served with a subpoena and have any questions, or are unable to attend, you must contact the agency or attorney that subpoenaed you. If you fail to respond to a subpoena, you may be held in contempt of court.