Florida legal information · Updated August 3, 2026
What Is Criminal Discovery in Florida?
Quick answer
Discovery is the process for exchanging and reviewing evidence before trial. It may include police reports, recordings, photographs, witness information, laboratory material, expert reports, criminal-history information, and statements attributed to the defendant.
Why discovery matters
A charge name does not reveal the strength of the case. Discovery shows what officers and witnesses claim happened, what was recorded, what physical evidence exists, and where accounts conflict.
Discovery is more than police reports
Body-camera video, dispatch records, photographs, digital evidence, scientific testing, search-warrant materials, and impeachment information may matter as much as the narrative report. Missing material may require follow-up requests or court action.
Review before decisions
Plea negotiations and motion decisions should be informed by the available evidence. Important issues can include inconsistent statements, identification problems, chain of custody, unlawful searches, incomplete video, and whether the State can prove each element.