Florida Statute 491.112 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2024 Florida Statutes (including 2025 Special Session C)

Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS

Chapter 491
CLINICAL, COUNSELING, AND PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES

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F.S. 491.0112

491.0112 Sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist; penalties.—

(1) Any psychotherapist who commits sexual misconduct with a client, or former client when the professional relationship was terminated primarily for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; however, a second or subsequent offense is a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(2) Any psychotherapist who violates subsection (1) by means of therapeutic deception commits a felony of the second degree punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) The giving of consent by the client to any such act shall not be a defense to these offenses.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the term:

(a) “Client” means a person to whom the services of a psychotherapist are provided.

(b) “Female genitals” includes the labia minora, labia majora, clitoris, vulva, hymen, and vagina.

(c) “Psychotherapist” means any person licensed pursuant to chapter 458, chapter 459, part I of chapter 464, chapter 490, or chapter 491, or any other person who provides or purports to provide treatment, diagnosis, assessment, evaluation, or counseling of mental or emotional illness, symptom, or condition.

(d) “Sexual misconduct” means the oral, anal, or female genital penetration of another by, or contact with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or female genital penetration of another by any object.

(e) “Therapeutic deception” means a representation to the client that sexual contact by the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the treatment of the client.

History.—s. 1, ch. 90-70; s. 13, ch. 91-201; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 137, ch. 2000-318; s. 2, ch. 2022-165.

F.S. 491.0112 on Google Scholar

F.S. 491.0112 on CourtListener

Amendments to 491.0112

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 491.0112

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S491.0112 1 - SEX ASSLT - PSYCHOTHERAPIST ENGAGE IN SEX WITH CLIENT - F: T

S491.0112 1 - SEX ASSLT - PSYCHOTHERAP ENGAGE SEX W CLIENT 2ND SUBSQ OFF - F: S

S491.0112 2 - SEX ASSLT - PSYCHOTHERAPIST ENGAGE SEX W CLIENT DECEPTION - F: S

Cases Citing Statute 491.0112

Total Results: 10

Seagrave v. State

802 So. 2d 281, 2001 WL 776269

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jul 12, 2001 | Docket: 1699005

Cited 71 times | Published

Ultimately, sexual misconduct by a therapist (section 491.0112), see Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure

Shapiro v. State

696 So. 2d 1321, 1997 WL 408318

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 23, 1997 | Docket: 355840

Cited 16 times | Published

sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist under section 491.0112, Florida Statutes. Appellant was charged under

In Re Amend. to Fla. Rules of Cr. Proc.

606 So. 2d 227, 1992 WL 246494

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 24, 1992 | Docket: 2191048

Cited 9 times | Published

Chapters 794 and 800, section 826.04, and section 491.0112. Category 3: Robbery: Section 812.13. Category

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2018-04.

257 So. 3d 370

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 15, 2018 | Docket: 8193607

Published

18 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY A PSYCHOTHERAPIST § 491.0112, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Sexual

In Re STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES— REPORT NO. 2013-03

146 So. 3d 1110, 39 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 531, 2014 Fla. LEXIS 2582, 2014 WL 4251210

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Aug 28, 2014 | Docket: 1171079

Published

18 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY A PSYCHOTHERAPIST § 491.0112, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Sexual

State v. Ludwig

700 So. 2d 18, 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 9193, 1997 WL 461158

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 13, 1997 | Docket: 64776064

Published

dismissal based on the unconstitutionality of section 491.0112, Florida Statutes (1995), on the authority

Shapiro v. State

696 So. 2d 1321, 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 8402

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 23, 1997 | Docket: 64775067

Published

sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist under section 491.0112, Florida Statutes. Appellant was charged under

Amendments to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure re Sentencing Guidelines

628 So. 2d 1084, 18 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 617, 1993 Fla. LEXIS 1928, 1993 WL 490876

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 30, 1993 | Docket: 64744908

Published

Cchapters 794 and 800, section 826.04, and section 491.0112. Category 3: Robbery: Section 812.13⅞ and

In re Amendments to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure-sentencing Guidelines (rules 3.701 & 3.988)

589 So. 2d 271, 16 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 725, 1991 Fla. LEXIS 1914, 1991 WL 236191

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 7, 1991 | Docket: 64663082

Published

Chapters 794 and 800, section 826.04, and section 491.0112 Category 3: Robbery: Section 812.13 Category

Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure re: Sentencing Guidelines

576 So. 2d 1307, 16 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 198, 1991 Fla. LEXIS 411, 1991 WL 28402

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Mar 7, 1991 | Docket: 64657567

Published

90-70, section 1, Laws of Florida (codified at section 491.0112, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990)), created the