Sixth Circuit Felony Pilot Program: What Electronic Monitoring at Sentencing Means for Tampa Bay

Since July 1, 2026, judges in Pinellas and Pasco counties have had a new option at felony sentencing: ordering electronic monitoring as part of probation. The option exists only in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Hillsborough County sits in a different circuit, so a Tampa address does not control which rules apply if a case lands in Clearwater or New Port Richey.

How the Pilot Works

Chapter 2026-86, Laws of Florida, created section 741.2906, Florida Statutes. The pilot runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and then the section is repealed. A judge can use it when all of these are true:

• The defendant is 18 or older and was found guilty, had adjudication withheld, or pleaded no contest.
• The offense happened on or after July 1, 2026.
• The charge is a felony domestic violence crime, a felony violation of a domestic violence injunction, or a felony violation of an injunction for sexual violence or dating violence.
• The court has entered a no-contact order with the victim as a condition of probation.

In those cases, the judge may order electronic monitoring. The judge must order it if clear and convincing evidence shows the defendant poses a threat of violence or physical harm to the victim. In making that call, the court has to consider prior convictions for violating injunctions tied to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking.

What Monitoring Looks Like Day to Day

The Department of Corrections runs the program. A designated person meets with the defendant to explain the conditions, including prohibited locations and the consequences of breaking the rules. The defendant pays for the monitoring under section 948.09. Monitoring cannot replace other mandatory probation terms, such as a batterers’ intervention program, and the department must set up a process for asking the court to remove the order.

Because monitoring is a probation condition, a violation can be treated like any other probation violation. Cost, location restrictions, and timing can also collide with a job, a home, or a child’s school, so the details of the order matter as much as the order itself.

A Bigger Picture at Sentencing

The same law raises the stakes before a case ever reaches that point. Section 741.2801 bumps a domestic violence offense up one level when the person has a prior domestic violence conviction, and a withheld adjudication or no contest plea counts as a conviction. A first-degree misdemeanor can become a third-degree felony, which may put more cases in felony court where the pilot applies.

Experienced Tampa domestic violence attorneys know that the conditions attached at sentencing can shape a client’s daily life more than the sentence itself. We also represent clients in Pinellas and Pasco counties, so these rules are part of our regular practice.

Not sure whether the pilot program could apply to you or someone you love? Bring us the charging documents and any proposed probation terms. At OA Law Firm, we will explain how the program works, push back where the law allows, and stay beside you through every hearing. Reach out through our website or give us a call today.

Source:

laws.flrules.org/2026/86