In the state of Florida, there are 68,845 registered sex offenders, many of whom are on the sex offender list due to pedophlia.

Pedophilia is classified as a paraphilic disorder under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). A paraphilic disorder is an abnormal sexual interest which causes personal distress; which involves a desire for sexual behaviors that cause psychological distress or injury in others; or which involve desire for sexual behaviors with people who are unable or unwilling to give consent.

Pedophilia specifically involves intense and recurrent sexual urges and sexual fantasies involving prepubescent children which have caused interpersonal difficulty or which have been acted upon. Not all individuals with pedophilia are criminals, as pedophilia is a sexual orientation only. However, some pedophiles act upon their urges in unlawful ways, such as by contacting children online for sexual purposes; viewing or creating child pornography; or engaging in sexual acts with a child.

Florida has criminalized any type of sexual contact between an adult and a minor who is under the age of consent. Florida laws prohibiting sexual behavior involving children include, but are not limited to unlawful sexual activity with certain minors (F.S. 794.05); lewd and lascivious offenses committed in the presence of someone under 16 (F.S. 800.04) and video voyeurism of a minor (F.S. 810.145(8)).

Both sexual contact with children and any involvement with child pornography are also illegal under federal law. Under both state and federal law, consent of a child is not relevant as minors are not lawfully permitted to give consent.

Conviction for a sexual offense involving a child under state or federal law will generally require the defendant to register as a sexual offender and to comply with certain restrictions involving the use of computers or employment choices.

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