Skip to main content
US Criminal Defense.org
Menu

California legal term

Access in California Criminal Law

Current through 2026 California legislative session

In California criminal law, “Access” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.

What does “Access” mean in California criminal law?

“Access” means to approach, a way or means of approaching, nearing, admittance to, including to instruct, communicate with, store information in, or retrieve information from a computer system or computer network. (Cal. Penal Code § 499c)

Statutes defining or using this term

Related terms in the same statutes

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.