Florida legal term
Offender in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Offender” 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 “Offender” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Offender” means a person accused of a sexual offense in violation of a provision of this chapter.(f) “Physically helpless” means unconscious, asleep, or for any other reason physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act.(g) “Physically incapacitated” means bodily impaired or handicapped and substantially limited in ability to resist or flee.(h) “Retaliation” includes, but is not limited to, threats of future physical punishment, kidnapping, false imprisonment or forcible confinement, or extortion.(i) “Serious personal injury” means great bodily harm or pain, permanent disability, o (Fla. Stat. § 794.011)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Accessory after the fact
- Aggravated battery
- Animal enterprise disruption; criminal penalties
- Authorized use of force; malicious battery and sexual misconduct prohibited; reporting required; penalties
- Battery of facility employee by throwing, tossing, or expelling certain fluids or materials
- Breaking or injuring fences
- Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking chart
- Criminal transmission of HIV; procedures; penalties
- Disorderly intoxication
- DNA database
- Duty to report sexual battery; penalties
- False personation
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.