Florida legal term
Obscene in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Obscene” 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 “Obscene” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Obscene” means the status of material which:(a) The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest;(b) Depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct as specifically defined herein; and(c) Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.A mother’s breastfeeding of her baby is not under any circumstance “obscene.” (13) “Person” includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint ventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, (Fla. Stat. § 847.001)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Obscene matter; transportation into state prohibited; penalty
- Obscene telephone service prohibited; penalty
- Prohibition of adult entertainment establishment that displays, sells, or distributes materials harmful to minors within 2,500 feet of a school
- Prohibition of certain acts in connection with obscene, lewd, etc., materials; penalty
- Protection of minors; prohibition of certain acts in connection with obscenity; penalty
- Wholesale promotion of obscene materials; penalties
- Prohibiting prostitution and related acts
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.