Anger Management in Florida: Special Conditions, PTI and Circuit Lists
In Florida, anger management is a "special condition" a judge adds to probation, or a step in a pretrial intervention deal with the State Attorney. Some circuits and sheriffs publish provider lists, and some of them say plainly that you may choose your own. Here is how to tell which one you're in.
From $29 · Refund if your court or officer doesn't accept your certificate.
- Court-accepted in most jurisdictions
- Educational course, not therapy
- Acceptance is decided by your court or officer — check with them first.
The three ways Florida cases lead to an anger class
- A special condition of probation. Florida Statute 948.039 lets the judge add special conditions to probation or community control. They must relate to the offense and be announced at sentencing. Anger management is one of the most common. If the judge didn't order it, your probation officer can't add it on their own.
- Pretrial Intervention (PTI). First-time defendants charged with a misdemeanor or a third-degree felony can be offered PTI under statute 948.08. The State Attorney, the victim and the judge must agree. The program can include counseling and education, and when you finish it the charges are dismissed. An anger class is a common PTI requirement.
- An injunction for protection. In a domestic violence injunction, the judge can order "treatment, intervention, or counseling services." Read the wording: some injunctions require a batterers' intervention program, which is not the same thing.
Employers and schools also ask for classes after an incident. They set their own rules.
Florida lists: some limit you, some say you can choose
Florida has no statewide list for anger management. Lists live at the circuit, county or sheriff level, and they don't all mean the same thing:
- Ninth Circuit (Orange and Osceola) publishes a list of treatment providers for court-ordered requirements. In its anger management section it says you are not limited to that list and the court has no preference, and an online provider is on it.
- Seminole County probation (run by the Sheriff) keeps an anger management provider list with out-of-county providers, and tells you to check with your officer before choosing an online option.
- Leon County builds a list of qualified court-ordered service providers through a yearly application round.
- Okaloosa County's clerk says it accepts any Florida certificate of completion and sends you to your probation officer for questions.
Good Standing Courses is not on any circuit, county or sheriff list. Where your list is "for information only," most officers will look at any class that matches the order. Where your officer says "only from this list," ask before you buy.
Domestic violence: Florida's BIP is 29 weeks and separate
Under statute 741.281, when someone is found guilty, gets adjudication withheld or pleads no contest to a domestic violence crime, the judge must order at least a year of probation and a batterers' intervention program (BIP), unless the judge explains on the record why not. Florida's BIP runs at least 29 weeks, including 24 weekly group sessions, and the Florida Department of Children and Families certifies each program every year.
An anger class can't stand in for a BIP. Good Standing Courses is not a Batterer Intervention Program. If your paperwork says BIP, look for a program on the DCF list.
How long Florida anger classes usually are
No Florida statute sets the hours. Judges write them into the order. In Florida provider lists we see:
- 4 or 8 hours for many misdemeanors and PTI agreements. These are the most common lengths in sheriff and circuit lists.
- 12 or 13 weeks of weekly sessions for more serious cases.
- 16 hours now and then, when the judge wants more than the usual 8.
Choose your hours
| Hours | What it covers | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | Warning signs, cooling down, your anger control plan | $29 | 4-hour class · Enroll |
| 8 hours | + hot thoughts, assertive talk, conflict, stress and alcohol | $49 | 8-hour class · Enroll |
| 12 hours | + anger at home, at work, on the road and online | $65 | 12-hour class · Enroll |
| 16 hours | + resentment, shame and guilt, mindfulness, staying on track | $79 | 16-hour class · Enroll |
Paperwork says "impulse control" or "decision making"? That's our Impulse Control & Decision Making class.
Before you enroll, ask your officer or PTI counselor
- "Is my anger class from a list, or can I pick a provider? Is online fine?"
- "How many hours does the order or PTI agreement require?"
- "Is this anger management, or is it a BIP? My charge involved a partner."
- "What do you need as proof: the certificate PDF, the verify link, or both?"
- "When is the deadline? My PTI period is 90 days unless extended."
Your officer can read our page for probation officers and check any certificate at /verify.
If your court says no
If your court, judge or probation officer doesn't accept your certificate, we refund 100% of the course fee. Send the written rejection within 60 days of finishing; the class you bought must match the type and hours in your order. Read the refund terms.
We never ask for your case number, court or date of birth. If you need them on the certificate, you type them into your own copy of the PDF.
Guides for other states
Frequently asked questions
Do Florida courts take online anger management classes?
Many do. Some circuit lists even include online providers. Ours is court-accepted in most jurisdictions, but your judge, officer or PTI program decides. Check with them first.
Is there a court approved anger management list in Florida?
There is no state list for anger management in Florida. Some circuits, counties and sheriffs keep lists, and at least one circuit says you aren't limited to its list. We are court-accepted in most jurisdictions, and you get your money back if your certificate isn't accepted.
Can I do this class instead of a Florida BIP?
No. A BIP is a 29-week program the Department of Children and Families certifies. Our class is not a Batterer Intervention Program.
Will finishing the class get my PTI case dismissed?
The class is one condition. Dismissal comes when you finish everything in your PTI agreement. Ask your lawyer or PTI counselor what else is on your list.
My officer says I need an 8-hour class. Which one do I buy?
The 8-hour anger management class. Eight lessons, a short video explainer in each one, and a certificate showing 8 hours.
I was ordered to anger management by a judge in one county but live in another.
The county that supervises you decides. Seminole's list, for example, includes out-of-county providers. Ask the officer assigned to your case.