California legal term
Business records in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Business records” 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 “Business records” mean in California criminal law?
“Business records” means computer data, data compilations, accounts, books, reports, contracts, correspondence, inventories, lists, personnel files, payrolls, vendor and client lists, documents, or papers of the person or business normally used in the regular course of business, or any other material item of business recordkeeping that may become technologically feasible in the future. (Cal. Penal Code § 1536.5)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.