Florida legal term
Defendant in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Defendant” 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 “Defendant” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Defendant” means an adult, or a juvenile who is prosecuted as an adult, who has been arraigned and charged with a felony offense under the laws of this state. (Fla. Stat. § 916.106)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Abuse, aggravated abuse, and neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult; penalties
- Administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) to persons convicted of sexual battery
- Applications for bail; information provided; hearing on application for modification; penalty for providing false or misleading information or omitting material information
- Attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy
- Civil cause of action
- Exposing children to an adult live performance
- Exposing minors to harmful motion pictures, exhibitions, shows, presentations, or representations
- False personation
- Harmful materials; sale or distribution to minors or using minors in production prohibited; penalty
- Interference with custody
- Lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age
- Luring or enticing a child
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.