{"id":371766,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/california-law\/california-criminal-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-11-04T12:56:41","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T17:56:41","slug":"california-criminal-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/california-law\/california-criminal-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"California Criminal Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n California Criminal Laws\n <\/h1>\n \n The California penal code defines illegal conduct for everyone within the state.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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There are code sections for criminal conduct by civilians and peace officers. Some criminal charges cross over into other sections of California codes, such as the motor vehicle code (for DUIs) and the health and safety code (for drug crimes).<\/p>\r\n

California law divides criminal offenses into three categories: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Some crimes can be either felonies or misdemeanors, depending on other factors. These factors, called enhancements, include the use of firearms or gang membership.<\/p>\r\n

California Penal Code and Crimes<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

California’s criminal procedure also divides crimes by the types of sentences given. Infractions are punishable by fines. Most infractions are not criminal acts but violations of traffic laws and civil statutes, such as littering or speeding.<\/p>\r\n

Misdemeanors are punishable by not more than 364 days in jail, even if the crime has a penalty of one year by law (CA Penal Code \u00a7 18.5). Felonies are punishable by not less than 16 months in prison unless otherwise specified (CA Penal Code \u00a7 18).<\/p>\r\n

Crimes Against the Person<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

These are violent crimes and generally felonies. They include:<\/p>\r\n