Florida legal term
Preliminary screening in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Preliminary screening” 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 “Preliminary screening” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Preliminary screening” means the gathering of preliminary information to be used in determining a child’s need for further evaluation or assessment or for referral for other substance abuse services through means such as psychosocial interviews; urine and breathalyzer screenings; and reviews of available educational, delinquency, and dependency records of the child. (Fla. Stat. § 985.03)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.