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Florida Statute 960.03 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
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The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLVII
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS
Chapter 960
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
View Entire Chapter
960.03 Definitions; ss. 960.01-960.28.—As used in ss. 960.01-960.28, unless the context otherwise requires, the term:
(1) “Catastrophic injury” means a permanent impairment constituted by:
(a) Spinal cord injury involving severe paralysis of an arm, a leg, or the trunk;
(b) Amputation of an arm, a hand, a foot, or a leg;
(c) Severe brain or closed-head injury as evidenced by:
1. Severe sensory or motor disturbances;
2. Severe communication disturbances;
3. Severe complex integrated disturbances of cerebral function;
4. Severe episodic neurological disorders; or
5. Other severe brain and closed-head injury conditions at least as severe in nature as any condition described in subparagraphs 1.-4.;
(d) Second-degree or third-degree burns on 25 percent or more of the total body surface or third-degree burns on 5 percent or more of the face and hands;
(e) Total or industrial blindness; or
(f) Any other injury that would otherwise qualify under this chapter and that is of a nature and severity that would qualify an employee to receive disability income benefits under Title II or supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act as the Social Security Act existed on July 1, 1992, without regard to any time limitations provided under that act.
(2) “Claimant” means the person on whose behalf an award is sought.
(3) “Crime” means:
(a) A felony or misdemeanor offense committed by an adult or a juvenile which results in physical injury or death, a forcible felony committed by an adult or juvenile which directly results in psychiatric or psychological injury, or a felony or misdemeanor offense of child abuse committed by an adult or a juvenile which results in a mental injury, as defined in s. 827.03, to a person younger than 18 years of age who was not physically injured by the criminal act. The mental injury to the minor must be verified by a psychologist licensed under chapter 490, by a physician licensed in this state under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who has completed an accredited residency in psychiatry, or by a physician who has obtained certification as an expert witness pursuant to s. 458.3175. The term also includes a criminal act that is committed within this state but that falls exclusively within federal jurisdiction.
(b) A violation of s. 316.027(2), s. 316.193, s. 316.1935, s. 327.35(1), s. 782.071(1)(b), or s. 860.13(1)(a) which results in physical injury or death.
(c) An act involving the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft which results in another person’s injury or death that is intentionally inflicted through the use of the vehicle, boat, or aircraft; however, no other act involving the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft constitutes a crime for purposes of this chapter.
(d) A criminal act committed outside this state against a resident of this state which would have been compensable if it had occurred in this state and which occurred in a jurisdiction that does not have an eligible crime victim compensation program as the term is defined in the federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984.
(e) A violation of s. 827.071, s. 847.0135, s. 847.0137, or s. 847.0138, related to online sexual exploitation and child pornography.
(f) A felony or misdemeanor that results in the death of an emergency responder, as defined in and solely for the purposes of s. 960.194, while answering a call for service in the line of duty, notwithstanding paragraph (c).
(4) “Crime Victims’ Services Office” means the former Bureau of Crimes Compensation and Victim and Witness Services, now the Crime Victims’ Services Office of the Department of Legal Affairs.
(5) “Department” means the Department of Legal Affairs.
(6) “Disabled adult” means a person 18 years of age or older who suffers from a condition of physical or mental incapacitation due to a developmental disability, organic brain damage, or mental illness or who has one or more physical or mental limitations that restrict the person’s ability to perform the normal activities of daily living.
(7) “Elderly person” means a person 60 years of age or older who is suffering from the infirmities of aging as manifested by advanced age or organic brain damage, or other physical, mental, or emotional dysfunction, to the extent that the ability of the person to provide adequately for his or her own care or protection is impaired.
(8) “Hearing officer” means a hearing officer designated by the Attorney General.
(9) “Intervenor” means any person who goes to the aid of another and suffers bodily injury or death as a direct result of acting, not recklessly, to prevent the commission of a crime, to lawfully apprehend a person reasonably suspected of having committed a crime, or to aid the victim of a crime.
(10) “Identified victim of child pornography” means any person who, while under the age of 18, is depicted in any image or movie of child pornography and who is identified through a report generated by a law enforcement agency and provided to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Child Victim Identification Program.
(11) “Out-of-pocket loss” means unreimbursed and unreimbursable expenses or indebtedness incurred for medical care, nonmedical remedial care, psychological counseling, or other treatment rendered in accordance with a religious method of healing or for other services necessary as a result of the injury or death upon which such claim is based.
(12) “Property loss” means the loss of tangible personal property directly caused by a criminal or delinquent act of another.
(13) “Treatment” means:
(a) Medical, dental, psychological, mental health, chiropractic, or physical rehabilitation services;
(b) Nonmedical remedial care; or
(c) Other treatment rendered in accordance with a religious method of healing.
(14) “Victim” means:
(a) A person who suffers personal physical injury or death as a direct result of a crime;
(b) A person younger than 18 years of age who was present at the scene of a crime, saw or heard the crime, and suffered a psychiatric or psychological injury because of the crime but who was not physically injured;
(c) A person younger than 18 years of age who was the victim of a felony or misdemeanor offense of child abuse that resulted in a mental injury as defined by s. 827.03 but who was not physically injured;
(d) A person against whom a forcible felony was committed and who suffers a psychiatric or psychological injury as a direct result of that crime but who does not otherwise sustain a personal physical injury or death; or
(e) An emergency responder, as defined in and solely for the purposes of s. 960.194, who is killed answering a call for service in the line of duty.
History.—s. 1, ch. 77-452; s. 3, ch. 80-146; s. 507, ch. 81-259; s. 1, ch. 85-326; s. 25, ch. 86-296; s. 9, ch. 90-211; s. 2, ch. 91-23; s. 35, ch. 91-46; s. 4, ch. 92-107; s. 20, ch. 92-287; s. 2, ch. 96-315; s. 1, ch. 97-41; s. 11, ch. 98-417; s. 2, ch. 99-373; s. 4, ch. 2001-147; s. 8, ch. 2005-119; s. 3, ch. 2007-129; s. 7, ch. 2008-172; s. 15, ch. 2012-155; s. 101, ch. 2015-2; s. 14, ch. 2015-92; s. 13, ch. 2017-155.

F.S. 960.03 on Google Scholar

F.S. 960.03 on CourtListener

Amendments to 960.03


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 960.03

Total Results: 18  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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United States v. Pedro Luis Christopher Tinoco, 304 F.3d 1088 (11th Cir. 2002).

Cited 248 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 59 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 1146, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 18479, 2002 WL 2013777

penalties framework contained in 21 U.S.C. § 960. 3. The Effect of Our Sanchez Decision
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State v. JM, 824 So. 2d 105 (Fla. 2002).

Cited 59 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 2002 WL 1448825

was found guilty or adjudicated delinquent); § 960.003(4), Fla. Stat. (2001) ("[T]he court shall order
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Div. Of Workers'comp, Etc. v. Brevda, 420 So. 2d 887 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982).

Cited 32 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...King Motor Co. v. Pollack, 409 So.2d 160 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982). Appellant next contends that the deputy commissioner erred in directing the Bureau of Crimes Compensation to furnish to the claimant certain psychiatric treatment, *890 arguing that because Section 960.03(6) defines "victim" as "any person who suffers personal physical injury as a direct result of a crime," there was no legislative intent to compensate victims of crime for any resulting psychiatric disorders....
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State v. Brewster, 601 So. 2d 1289 (Fla. 5th DCA 1992).

Cited 5 times | Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 1992 WL 150873

victim was a fifteen year old boy. Pursuant to section 960.003, Florida Statutes (1991)[1] the defendant was
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Fosman v. State, 664 So. 2d 1163 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995).

Cited 5 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1995 WL 757879

to have an HIV test under Florida Statute section 960.003 (Supp. 1994), the pertinent provisions of which
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MD v. State, 993 So. 2d 1061 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2008 WL 2403723

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing pursuant to section 960.003, Florida Statutes (2007), and remand with directions
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M.D. v. State, 993 So. 2d 1061 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2008 Fla. App. LEXIS 8982

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing pursuant to section 960.003, Florida Statutes (2007), and remand with directions
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State v. J.M., 824 So. 2d 105 (Fla. 2002).

Cited 2 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 27 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 621, 2002 Fla. LEXIS 1468

was found guilty or adjudicated delinquent); § 960.003(4), Fla. Stat. (2001) (“[T]he court shall order
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In Re Amendments to Fla. Rules of Juv. Pro., 649 So. 2d 1370 (Fla. 1995).

Cited 1 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1995 WL 27510

form for HIV testing), which conforms with section 960.003, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1992), and form 8
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Medlin v. Bureau of Crimes Comp. Div. of Workers' Comp., Dep't of Labor & Sec., 477 So. 2d 1078 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985).

Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2465, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 16624

...After the Bureau of Crimes Compensation denied appellant’s claim for compensation, the claimant requested a hearing pursuant to section 960.09(3), Florida Statutes (1983). The deputy commissioner also denied appellant’s claim, and this appeal timely followed. This appeal is controlled by that portion of section 960.03(3), Florida Statutes (1983), which provides that: [N]o act involving the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft which results in injury or death shall constitute a crime for the purpose of this chapter unless the injury or dea...
...to which this act applies. In Davis v. Bureau of Crimes Compensation, 406 So.2d 1189 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981), our sister court held that a hit and run accident alone, without proof of intent to inflict injury, is insufficient to constitute a crime under section 960.03(3)....
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Bureau of Crimes Comp., Dep't of Labor & Emp. Sec. v. Traas, 421 So. 2d 50 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1982).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 21458

...In his order, the deputy found that the hospitalization was directly related by cause and effect to the crime committed. The deputy, citing the legislative intent of the Crimes Compensation Act, section 960.02, Florida Statutes (1981), found that the appellee fell concurrently within the provisions of sections 960.-03(1) and 960.03(7), and was both the victim of the crime and the claimant....
...e hospitalization and treatment of his psychiatric condition. This award was erroneous. The Crimes Compensation Act was intended to reimburse victims and intervenors for their physical injuries and assist them in resultant financial hardships. See §§ 960.03(6), 960.03(7) and 960.04(1), Fla.Stat....
...By his finding that the appellee was both a victim of the crime and claimant, the deputy vastly expanded the intended coverage of the Act so that its coverage goes beyond the direct results of the crime. It is clear that the appellee cannot be construed as a victim as defined under the Act. Victim is defined in section 960.03(7), Florida Statutes (1981), as “any person who suffers personal physical injury or death as a direct result of a crime.” The appellee’s injuries here were clearly of a psychological rather than a physical nature....
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1981).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

or surcharge on any civil fine or penalty. Section 960.03(3), F.S. (1980 Supp.), defines `crime' in the
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Isom v. State, 722 So. 2d 237 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998).

Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 1998 WL 830660

requiring him to submit to HIV testing pursuant to section 960.003, Florida Statutes (1997). We summarily deny
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Davis v. Bureau of Crimes Comp., 406 So. 2d 1189 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1981).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1981 Fla. App. LEXIS 21644

driver’s act was a “crime” within the meaning of Section 960.03(3), inasmuch as the record establishes that
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James v. State, 695 So. 2d 863 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 6696, 1997 WL 330537

required did not contravene the Fourth Amendment. Section 960.003(2) provides that a court “shall” order HIV
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Calvit v. Dep't of Legal Affairs, Bureau of Crime Victim Comp., 714 So. 2d 1103 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1998).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1998 Fla. App. LEXIS 7979, 1998 WL 347242

...Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. He filed a victim relief claim pursuant to the Florida Crimes Compensation Act, which was denied on the basis that the crime occurred outside the territorial boundaries of the United States, and was therefore not compensable under section 960.03(3), Florida Statutes (1995), because it did not fall within the definition of a crime. Appellant relies on that portion of section 960.03(3), which, after defining crime as an “offenSe punishable under the laws of this state” goes on to define crime as including: any such criminal act committed outside of this state against a resident of this state that would have be...
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P.R., a child v. State of Florida, 183 So. 3d 1163 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 236, 2016 WL 64434

testing when it was not permitted to do so under section 960.003 of the Florida Statutes. We agree and reverse
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Latham v. State, 185 So. 3d 686 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016).

Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 1754, 2016 WL 540650

...correct sentencing error pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b)(2). In the motion, Latham argued that because the restitution was ordered to be paid to the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund rather than the victim, the applicable statutes are sections 960.065(1)(a) and 960.03(14), Florida Statutes (2012)....
...Latham contended that -3- those statutes require a causal link between the physical injury or death and the crime. In a written order, the trial court denied Latham's rule 3.800(b)(2) motion, concluding that the restitution was authorized under sections 960.03(14)(a) and 960.03(3)(b), which define "victim" and "crime." The trial court also concluded that the issue was not cognizable in a rule 3.800(b) motion, citing Mapp v....
...Accordingly, we do not decide whether restitution to the victim in this case would have been proper under section 316.027(1)(c), Florida Statutes (2012). -7- "victim" is eligible for awards under chapter 960. Section 960.03(14) defines "[v]ictim" as "[a] person who suffers personal physical injury or death as a direct result of a crime."3 Section 960.03(3)(b) in turn defines "[c]rime" as [a] violation of s....
...flicted injury or death through the use of a vehicle, boat, or aircraft. While the victim suffered death as a result of Latham's accident and Latham was charged with violating section 316.027(1), Latham's offense does not constitute a crime under section 960.03 because the "death was [not] intentionally inflicted through the use of [Latham's] vehicle." § 960.03(3)(b).5 Therefore, under the plain language of the above-mentioned statutes, the victim in this 3 Subsection (14) includes other definitions for "[v]ictim" that do not apply to the facts of this case. 4 Subsection (3) includes other definitions for "[c]rime" that do not apply to the facts of this case. 5 We note that the definition of "[c]rime" in section 960.03(3)(b) cited above was the result of an amendment effective on October 1, 2012, the date of Latham's offense. See ch. 2012-155, § 15, Laws of Fla. (effective Oct. 1, 2012). Before such amendment, the definition of "[c]rime" in subsection (3)(b) was much broader and would have encompassed the offense in this case had it been applicable. § 960.03(3)(b), Fla. Stat....
...psychiatric or psychological injury to, or death of, the victim or intervenor; and 3. Such crime was promptly reported to the proper authorities. As discussed above, Latham's offense does not meet the definition of "[c]rime" in section 960.03(3)(b), which also applies to section 960.13. Furthermore, even if the offense of leaving the scene of the accident were to constitute a crime under section 960.03, the offense does not meet the requirement in section 960.13(1)(a)(2) that the crime directly result in the injury to or death of the victim....
...But we have previously held that the trial court was not obligated to order restitution in the amount awarded by the Fund. Payne v. State, 873 So. 2d 621, 622 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004). The State acknowledges that Latham's offense does not constitute a crime under section 960.03 and that the Fund's payment of an award to the victim was arguably unauthorized under section 960.13, but the State claims that the trial court was not required to refuse to impose the restitution....

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.