Florida legal term
Culpable negligence in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Culpable negligence” 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 “Culpable negligence” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Culpable negligence” means reckless disregard of human life or safety and consciously doing an act or following a course of conduct that the actor knew, or reasonably should have known, was likely to cause bodily injury. (Fla. Stat. § 831.03)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Abuse, aggravated abuse, and neglect of a child; penalties
- Culpable negligence
- Manslaughter; aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person or disabled adult; aggravated manslaughter of a child; aggravated manslaughter of an officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, or a paramedic
- Offenses involving forging or counterfeiting private labels
- Violation of s. 823.07; penalty
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.