Florida legal term
Prisoner in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Prisoner” 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 “Prisoner” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Prisoner” means any person who is under civil or criminal arrest and in the lawful custody of any law enforcement official, or any person committed to or detained in any municipal or county jail or state prison, prison farm, or penitentiary, or to the custody of the department pursuant to lawful authority. (Fla. Stat. § 944.02)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Acceptance of unauthorized compensation; penalty
- Conveying tools into jail to aid escape; forcible rescue
- Escape by negligence of officer
- Escape through voluntary action of officer
- Escapes; penalty
- General prohibition on pen register and trap and trace device use; exception
- Harboring, concealing, aiding escaped prisoners; penalty
- Holding persons as hostages; penalty
- Interference with prisoners; penalty
- Malpractice by jailers
- Permitting inmates to escape
- Refusal to receive prisoner
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.