California legal term
confidential communication in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “confidential communication” 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 “confidential communication” mean in California criminal law?
“confidential communication” means any communication carried on in circumstances as may reasonably indicate that any party to the communication desires it to be confined to the parties thereto, but excludes a communication made in a public gathering or in any legislative, judicial, executive, or administrative proceeding open to the public, or in any other circumstance in which the parties to the communication may reasonably expect that the communication may be overheard or recorded. (Cal. Penal Code § 632)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.