Fla. R. Juv. P. Form 8.953

WAIVER OF RIGHTS

1. Right to counsel.

I have the right to have a lawyer help me at all times while I

am in juvenile court. If I cannot afford a lawyer, the court will

appoint one to help me. The person next to me is a lawyer who can

help me.

I have talked to a lawyer about my case.

2. Entering a plea.

This means that I am not fighting the charge(s). It means that

I am entering a plea of guilty or no contest.

By pleading guilty, I am admitting that I did the crime(s) that

the state says I did.

By pleading no contest, I am entering a plea because it is in

my best interest, but I am not admitting that I did anything wrong.

3. Nature of the charge(s) against me.

I know the crime(s) I have been charged with and what they

mean.

I understand what crime(s) I am entering a plea to and which

ones (if any) the state will dismiss.

4. Constitutional Rights

By entering a plea, I am giving up the following constitutional

rights:

(a) Presumption of innocence.

Right now I am considered innocent and the state has to

prove that I am guilty or that I did what they say I did beyond a

reasonable doubt. I do not have to prove that I am innocent.

(b) Right to trial.

The state would try to prove I am guilty at a trial or

adjudicatory hearing. The state may use evidence such as witness

testimony, fingerprints, videos, or photos.

(c) Right to call and cross examine witnesses.

Witness testimony would be people who have information

about the crime that are required to come to the trial. They will

swear to tell the truth and answer questions by the prosecutor and

my lawyer. The state would ask the witnesses questions and my

lawyer and I would also be able to ask the witnesses questions.

I would also have the right to call my own witnesses at

trial to tell my side of the story and speak for me on my behalf.

(d) Right to testify on your own behalf.

I would also have the right to tell the judge my side of the

story after discussion with my lawyer.

(e) Right to remain silent.

I do not have to tell my side of the story. I can sit with

my lawyer and not say anything. My decision to not talk or present

evidence will not affect how the judge decides whether I am guilty or

not guilty.

5. Evidence and/or Defenses.

My lawyer has informed me of the facts that the state would

have to prove before I could be found guilty and has discussed with

me any possible defenses that could be used in my case. I am

entering this plea because I think the state could prove I am guilty

if we went to trial or because it is in my best interest.

6. Consequences of a Plea.

My lawyer, or the court, has informed me of the possible

consequences of entering into this plea, including, but not limited

to:

(a) loss of driver license;

(b) deportation issues;

(c) how this will affect my record and future

punishment from the court, including possible consequences in

adult court;

(d) how this affects my ability to get a job, join the

military, or apply for college;

(e) how this will affect my ability or my parent’s or

guardian’s ability to secure or maintain housing; and

(f) issues relating to sex offender registration and

notification as well as Jimmy Ryce consequences.

7. Voluntary and Intelligent.

I am entering this plea because I want to or because I think it

is in my best interest. No one is forcing me to enter this plea. No

promises or threats have been made to get me to enter this plea.

I am not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications

at this time.

8. Appeal.

If I went to trial and the juvenile court judge decided that I was

guilty, I could ask some other judges, called appellate judges, to

look over the trial and decide if the trial was fair and if the decision

was fair and correct.

This is called my right to appeal. However, if the judge accepts

this plea, the only issues I will be able to appeal are those that

relate to my sentence and to the judge’s authority to hear my case.

I am presently represented by …..(name)…… My lawyer has

gone over all my rights and I am satisfied with the advice and help

of my lawyer.

Child Attorney for child Date

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