Florida legal term
Child abuse in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Child abuse” 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 “Child abuse” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Child abuse” means:1. (Fla. Stat. § 827.03)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Accessory after the fact
- Contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child; penalty
- Criminal transmission of HIV; procedures; penalties
- Falsifying records
- Removing minors from state or concealing minors contrary to state agency order or court order
- Unlawful desertion of a child
- False imprisonment; false imprisonment of child under age 13, aggravating circumstances
- Kidnapping; kidnapping of child under age 13, aggravating circumstances
- Murder
- Possession or use of weapon; aggravated battery; felony reclassification; minimum sentence
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.