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Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor: F.S. 827.04

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Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – Florida Statute 827.04 defines the crime of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. A person is guilty of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor if they commit “any act which causes, tends to cause, encourages, or contributes to a child becoming a delinquent…”

The most common example of this crime is giving someone a minor an alcoholic beverage, whether it be a beer or mixed drink. Another example is when a minor gets caught drinking or smoking pot at someone’s house, and the parents get charged. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida law which means that, if convicted, you could be facing up to twelve (12) months in the county jail. 

There are defenses to these charges. For example, in one case from 2004, the child’s father was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor because his daughter was smoking pot given to her by her boyfriend and drinking alcohol she took from her mother. The trial court found that while these things were happening in the father’s home, he did not know. Because he did not know, he was required to be found not guilty of the charges.