Fla. Stat. 943.0439
Interviews of victims, suspects, or defendants with autism or an autism spectrum disorder

(1)

A law enforcement officer, a correctional officer, or another public safety official shall, upon the request of an individual diagnosed with autism or an autism spectrum disorder or his or her parent or guardian, make a good faith effort to ensure that a psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health counselor, special education instructor, clinical social worker, or related professional is present at all interviews of the individual. The professional must have experience treating, teaching, or assisting patients or clients who have been diagnosed with autism or an autism spectrum disorder or related developmental disability or must be certified in special education with a concentration focused on persons with autism or an autism spectrum disorder. All expenses related to the attendance of the professional at interviews shall be borne by the requesting parent, guardian, or individual. If the individual is a victim, the defendant shall reimburse the victim for all expenses related to the attendance of the professional at the interview, in addition to other restitution or penalties provided by law, upon conviction of the offense of which the individual is a victim. Failure to have a professional as defined by this subsection present at the time of the interview is not a basis for suppression of the statement or the contents of the interview or for a cause of action against the law enforcement officer or agency. This subsection applies to such an individual who is the victim, a suspect, or a defendant formally accused of a crime.

(2)

Each law enforcement agency must ensure that appropriate policies are developed which implement this section and that training is provided to its law enforcement and correctional officers based on those policies.

Source: Section 943.0439 — Interviews of victims, suspects, or defendants with autism or an autism spectrum disorder, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0943.­0439 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

943.01
Short title 943.02
Definitions 943.03
Department of Law Enforcement 943.04
Criminal Justice Investigations and Forensic Science Program 943.05
Criminal Justice Information Program 943.06
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Systems Council 943.08
Duties 943.09
Criminal Justice Professionalism Program 943.10
Definitions 943.11
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission 943.12
Powers, duties, and functions of the commission 943.13
Officers’ minimum qualifications for employment or appointment 943.14
Commission-certified criminal justice training schools 943.16
Payment of tuition or officer certification examination fee by employing agency 943.17
Basic recruit, advanced, and career development training programs 943.18
Compensation and benefits study 943.19
Saving clause 943.22
Salary incentive program for full-time officers 943.25
Criminal justice trust funds 943.31
Legislative intent 943.031
Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council 943.32
Statewide criminal analysis laboratory system 943.032
Financial Crime Analysis Center and Financial Transaction Database 943.33
State-operated criminal analysis laboratories 943.34
Powers and duties of department in relation to state-operated laboratories 943.35
Funding for existing laboratories 943.36
Submission of annual budget 943.37
Option to become state-operated laboratory 943.041
Crimes Against Children Criminal Profiling Program 943.042
Violent Crime Investigative Emergency and Drug Control Strategy Implementation Account 943.043
Toll-free telephone number 943.045
Definitions 943.046
Notification of criminal offender information 943.051
Criminal justice information 943.052
Disposition reporting 943.053
Dissemination of criminal justice information 943.054
Exchange of federal criminal history records and information 943.055
Records and audit 943.056
Criminal history records 943.057
Access to criminal justice information for research or statistical purposes 943.059
Court-ordered sealing of criminal history records 943.60
Definitions 943.61
Powers and duties of the Capitol Police 943.62
Investigations by the Capitol Police 943.63
Arrest by the Capitol Police 943.64
Ex officio agents 943.66
Rules 943.67
Equipment 943.68
Transportation and protective services 943.69
Care for Retired Police Dogs Program 943.081
Public safety system information technology resources 943.082
School Safety Awareness Program 943.085
Legislative intent with respect to upgrading the quality of law enforcement officers and correctional officers 943.125
Accreditation of state and local law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, public agency offices of inspectors general, and certain pretrial diversion programs 943.131
Temporary employment or appointment 943.132
Implementation of federal qualified active or qualified retired law enforcement concealed firearms provisions 943.133
Responsibilities of employing agency, commission, and program with respect to compliance with employment qualifications and the conduct of background investigations 943.134
Release of employee information by employers 943.135
Requirements for continued employment 943.137
Establishment of qualifications and standards above the minimum 943.139
Notice of employment, appointment, or separation 943.146
Securing of copyrights by the department and sale of department work products 943.171
Basic skills training in handling domestic violence cases 943.172
Basic skills training in victims assistance and rights 943.173
Examinations 943.175
Inservice training 943.253
Exemption 943.255
Effect of chs. 80-71 and 81-24 on prior rules and administrative proceedings 943.256
Criminal justice selection centers 943.257
Independent audit documentation subject to inspection 943.0311
Chief of Domestic Security 943.0312
Regional domestic security task forces 943.0313
Domestic Security Oversight Council 943.0314
Public records and public meetings exemptions 943.0321
The Florida Domestic Security and Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Center and the Florida Domestic Security and Counter-Terrorism Database 943.324
Rapid DNA Grant Program for county jails or sheriffs’ offices 943.325
DNA database 943.326
DNA evidence collected in sexual offense forensic physical examinations and investigations 943.327
Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Grant Program 943.361
Statewide criminal analysis laboratory system 943.362
Forfeiture and Investigative Support Trust Fund 943.365
Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund 943.366
Federal Grants Trust Fund 943.367
Administrative Trust Fund 943.403
Rulemaking 943.0411
Online Sting Operations Grant Program for local law enforcement agencies to protect children 943.0412
Identity Theft and Fraud Grant Program 943.0415
Cybercrime Office 943.0435
Sexual offenders required to register with the department 943.0436
Duty of the court to uphold laws governing sexual predators and sexual offenders 943.0437
Commercial social networking websites 943.0438
Athletic coaches for independent sanctioning authorities 943.0439
Interviews of victims, suspects, or defendants with autism or an autism spectrum disorder 943.0515
Retention of criminal history records of minors 943.0525
Criminal justice information systems 943.0535
Aliens, criminal records 943.0542
Access to criminal history information provided by the department to qualified entities 943.0543
National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact 943.0544
Criminal justice information network and information management 943.0575
Public access to records 943.0578
Lawful self-defense expunction 943.0581
Administrative expunction for arrests made contrary to law or by mistake 943.0582
Diversion program expunction 943.0583
Human trafficking victim expunction 943.0584
Criminal history records ineligible for court-ordered expunction or court-ordered sealing 943.0585
Court-ordered expunction of criminal history records 943.0595
Automatic sealing of criminal history records 943.601
Preservation of legislative powers 943.611
Director of Capitol Police 943.681
Capitol Police program 943.685
Authority to purchase good will and promotional materials 943.686
Unauthorized use of Department of Law Enforcement emblems or names prohibited 943.687
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission 943.1395
Certification for employment or appointment 943.1397
Officer certification examinations 943.1701
Uniform statewide policies and procedures 943.1702
Collection of statistics on domestic violence 943.1715
Basic skills training relating to diverse populations 943.1716
Continued employment training relating to diverse populations 943.1717
Use of dart-firing stun guns 943.1718
Body cameras 943.1719
Basic skills training relating to the use of electronic databases 943.1724
Sexual assault investigation training 943.1725
Basic skills training on human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome 943.1726
Continued employment training relating to diabetic emergencies 943.1727
Continued employment training relating to autism spectrum disorder 943.1728
Basic skills training relating to the protection of archaeological sites 943.1729
Skills training relating to community policing 943.1735
Basic skills training related to use of force 943.1740
Standards for use of force investigations 943.1745
Training relating to officer health and wellness principles 943.1755
Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute 943.1757
Criminal justice executives 943.1758
Curriculum revision for diverse populations 943.2561
Definitions 943.2562
Advisory boards 943.2563
Advisory board organization 943.2564
Center supervision 943.2565
Centralized information centers on prospective employment candidates 943.2566
Promotions 943.2567
Operation and administration accounts 943.2568
Advisory boards 943.03101
Counter-terrorism and immigration enforcement coordination 943.3251
Postsentencing DNA testing 943.04351
Search of registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders required before appointment or employment 943.04352
Search of registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders required when placement on misdemeanor probation 943.04353
Triennial study of sexual predator and sexual offender registration and notification procedures 943.04354
Removal of the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator in special circumstances 943.6871
Criminal justice data transparency 943.6872
Use of force data collection 943.6873
Active assailant response policy 943.17191
Continued employment training relating to the use of electronic databases 943.17261
Department of Law Enforcement 943.17291
Basic skills training in juvenile sexual offender investigation 943.17295
Continued employment training relating to juvenile sexual offender investigation 943.17296
Training in identifying and investigating elder abuse and neglect 943.17297
Training in identifying and investigating human trafficking 943.17298
Training in the recognition of and responses to head trauma and brain injury in a child under 6 years of age 943.17299
Continued employment training relating to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia 943.44353
Automatic notification of registration information regarding sexual predators and offenders

Current through Fall 2025

§ 943.0439. Interviews of victims, suspects, or defendants with autism or an autism spectrum disorder's source at flsenate​.gov