California legal term
Coercion in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Coercion” 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 “Coercion” mean in California criminal law?
“Coercion” includes a scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process; debt bondage; or providing and facilitating the possession of a controlled substance to a person with the intent to impair the person’s judgment. (Cal. Penal Code § 236.1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.