There is no “Felony 22-D charge in Florida.” Florida classifies felonies by degree — capital, life, first, second, and third — not by alphanumeric codes. If you’re seeing “22-D” on a document, it almost certainly points to subsection (3)(d) of Florida Statute 921.0022, the state’s offense severity ranking chart, or to a federal sentencing reference, or to an internal tracking code. It is not, on its own, a criminal charge.
Where “22-D” Most Likely Came From
The most common source is Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code. Section 921.0022 of the Florida Statutes contains the offense severity ranking chart, which assigns every felony in the state to one of ten severity levels.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Statute 921.0022 – Criminal Punishment Code; Offense Severity Ranking Chart The chart’s subsections are labeled (a) through (j), matching Levels 1 through 10. Subsection (3)(d) covers Level 4 offenses. Someone looking at a sentencing scoresheet that cites “921.0022(3)(d)” will often shorten that in memory or conversation to “22-D.”
A second possibility is a federal sentencing reference. The federal sentencing guidelines use a grid with numbered offense levels from 1 to 43 and lettered sentencing zones from A to D. An offense level of 22 within Zone D describes a specific federal prison range, not a Florida charge.2United States Sentencing Commission. Annotated 2025 Chapter 5 If the case is in federal court, that’s a plausible source.
The third possibility is administrative. Florida law enforcement uses the Offense Base Tracking System (OBTS), and each court generates its own case numbers and disposition abbreviations. These codes can look like charge classifications to anyone who isn’t used to reading criminal records, and they get repeated in conversation without the context that would explain them.
How the Severity Ranking Chart Works
Because subsection (3)(d) of Statute 921.0022 is the most likely origin, it helps to know what the chart actually does. Florida judges use it alongside a sentencing scoresheet to calculate a minimum sentence score for each defendant.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Statute 921.0022 – Criminal Punishment Code; Offense Severity Ranking Chart Level 1 is the least serious; Level 10 is the most.
The chart is organized by statute number, felony degree, and a short description of the offense. Level 4 — subsection (3)(d) — contains a mix of second-degree and third-degree felonies. To connect “22-D” to your actual charge, pull up the Level 4 portion of the chart and match the underlying statute number listed on your charging document.
Finding the Real Charge on Your Paperwork
The fastest way to figure out what you’re actually charged with is to find the full statute number on the document. Florida identifies every criminal offense by a specific statute section — 782.04 for murder, for example, or 316.1925 for careless driving.3Florida Senate. Florida Code 782.04 – Murder That number, not any shorthand, is what defines the charge.
Arrest affidavits, charging informations, and court dispositions almost always include the statute number. If you have a case number, the clerk of court in the county where the case was filed can pull the charging document. Most Florida counties also run online case search portals on the clerk’s website where you can look up a case by name or number.
The Florida Legislature keeps a searchable database of state statutes at leg.state.fl.us. Once you have the statute number, you can look up the exact language of the offense, the felony degree, and the severity level. If you only know the common name of the offense, keyword search works too. Getting the specific statute number is the single most useful step before doing anything else with the charge.
Florida’s Five Felony Degrees
Once you’ve identified the underlying statute, the felony degree tells you the maximum penalty a judge can impose. Florida Statute 775.081 lists five degree categories,4The Florida Legislature. Florida Statute 775.081 – Classifications of Felonies and Misdemeanors and the maximum prison terms come from Section 775.082:5Florida Senate. Florida Code 775.082 – Penalties; Applicability of Sentencing Structures; Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Certain Reoffenders Previously Released From Prison
- Capital felony: death or life in prison without parole.
- Life felony: life in prison, with a possible fine of up to $15,000.
- First-degree felony: up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Some first-degree felonies carry a life sentence when the statute specifically says so.
- Second-degree felony: up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Third-degree felony: up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Any offense labeled a felony without a specified degree defaults to a third-degree felony. The degree sets the ceiling; the severity ranking chart and the sentencing scoresheet tell the judge where within that ceiling the sentence should fall.
If “22-D” Showed Up on a Background Check
If you saw “Felony 22-D” on a background check or criminal history report and you believe it’s wrong, you can challenge it. The FBI maintains Identity History Summaries and accepts disputes from anyone who believes their record is inaccurate or incomplete. The challenge needs to identify what’s wrong and include supporting documentation. There is no fee, and the FBI typically responds within 45 days.6Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
For state-level Florida records, questions about correcting, sealing, or expunging a record go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which manages the state’s criminal history repository. Florida has its own eligibility rules for sealing and expungement that depend on the type of offense and the outcome of the case.