California legal term
Community-based punishment in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Community-based punishment” 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 “Community-based punishment” mean in California criminal law?
“Community-based punishment” means correctional sanctions and programming encompassing a range of custodial and noncustodial responses to criminal or noncompliant offender activity. (Cal. Penal Code § 17.5)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.