D.T.M. v. State

PER CURIAM. D.T.M. (a juvenile) has filed a petition seeking a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that he is being unlawfully detained because the trial court improperly violated his probation without any affidavit of violation having been filed. We agree. Rule 8.120(a)(2) of the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure requires that “[a]ny proceeding alleging a violation shall be initiated by the filing of a sworn affidavit [624] of the material facts supporting the allegation ... executed by the child’s juvenile probation officer or other person having actual knowledge of the facts.” The trial court may initiate revocation proceedings by the entry of an order, but that order “must incorporate and reference the affidavit described in subdivision (a)(2).” Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.120(a)(4). In this case, no affidavit appears in the record or court docket. The docket merely indicates that the trial court received an e-mail alleging that D.T.M. had absconded in violation of his probation. The plain language of rule 8.120 requires a sworn affidavit. Accordingly, we grant D.T.M.’s petition and order that he be released from commitment and reinstated to probation. This order is without prejudice to the initiation of a proper revocation proceeding. PETITION GRANTED. PALMER, ORFINGER and EVANDER, JJ., concur.