Florida legal term
Gravely disabled in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Gravely disabled” 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 “Gravely disabled” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Gravely disabled” means a condition in which an inmate, as a result of a diagnosed mental illness, is:(a) In danger of serious physical harm resulting from the inmate’s failure to provide for his or her essential physical needs of food, clothing, hygiene, health, or safety without the assistance of others; or(b) Experiencing a substantial deterioration in behavioral functioning evidenced by the inmate’s unremitting decline in volitional control over his or her actions. (Fla. Stat. § 945.42)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.