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California legal term

civil proceeding in California Criminal Law

Current through 2026 California legislative session

In California criminal law, “civil proceeding” 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 “civil proceeding” mean in California criminal law?

“civil proceeding” means a civil action or a government claim filed pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 900) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code. (Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 827)

Statutes defining or using this term

Related terms in the same statutes

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.