Florida legal term
Qualified offense in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Qualified offense” 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 “Qualified offense” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Qualified offense” means any offense, substantially similar in elements and penalties to an offense in this state, which is in violation of a law of any other jurisdiction, whether that of another state, the District of Columbia, the United States or any possession or territory thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction, that was punishable under the law of such jurisdiction at the time of its commission by the defendant by death or imprisonment exceeding 1 year. (Fla. Stat. § 775.084)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.