Florida legal term
Likelihood of serious harm in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Likelihood of serious harm” 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 “Likelihood of serious harm” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Likelihood of serious harm” means:(a) A substantial risk that the inmate will inflict serious physical harm upon his or her own person, as evidenced by threats or attempts to commit suicide or the actual infliction of serious physical harm on self;(b) A substantial risk that the inmate will inflict physical harm upon another person, as evidenced by behavior which has caused such harm or which places any person in reasonable fear of sustaining such harm; or(c) A reasonable degree of medical certainty that the inmate will suffer serious physical or mental harm, as evidenced by the inmate’s rece (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.