California legal term
dependent adult in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “dependent adult” 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 “dependent adult” mean in California criminal law?
“dependent adult” means a person, regardless of whether the person lives independently, who is between the ages of 18 and 65, who has physical or mental limitations which restrict his or her ability to carry out normal activities or to protect his or her rights, including, but not limited to, persons who have physical or developmental disabilities or whose physical or mental abilities have diminished because of age. “Dependent adult” includes any person between the ages of 18 and 65, who is admitted as an inpatient to a 24-hour facility, as defined in Sections 1250, 1250.2, and 1250.3 of the H (Cal. Penal Code § 1336)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.