California legal term
Criminal justice agency in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Criminal justice agency” 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 “Criminal justice agency” mean in California criminal law?
“Criminal justice agency” means an agency at any level of government that performs, as its principal function, activities relating to the apprehension, prosecution, defense, adjudication, incarceration, or correction of criminal suspects and criminal offenders. (Cal. Penal Code § 851.92)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.