California legal term
Emotional harm in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Emotional harm” 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 “Emotional harm” mean in California criminal law?
“Emotional harm” includes having a parent who has committed domestic violence against the parent who is taking, enticing away, keeping, withholding, or concealing the child. (Cal. Penal Code § 278.7)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.