Florida legal term
Direct care in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Direct 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 “Direct care” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Direct care” means direct contact with youth for the purpose of providing care, supervision, custody, or control of youth in a detention facility, delinquency program, or commitment program within any restrictiveness level, which is operated by the department or by a provider under contract with the department.(b) “Employee” means any person who exercises direct care. (Fla. Stat. § 985.645)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.