Florida legal term
Care in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Care” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Florida criminal code.
What does “Care” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Care” means support and services necessary to maintain the child’s physical and mental health, including, but not limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine, and medical services that a prudent person would consider essential for the well-being of the child.(b) “Caregiver” has the same meaning as provided in s. 39.01.(c) “Child” means a child for whose care the caregiver is legally responsible.(d) “Desertion” or “deserts” means to leave a child in a place or with a person other than a relative with the intent not to return to the child and with the intent not to pro (Fla. Stat. § 827.10)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.