California legal term
Evidence-based program or practice in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Evidence-based program or practice” 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 “Evidence-based program or practice” mean in California criminal law?
“Evidence-based program or practice” means a program or practice that has a high level of research indicating its effectiveness, determined as a result of multiple rigorous evaluations including randomized controlled trials and evaluations that incorporate strong comparison group designs, or a single large multisite randomized study, and, typically, has specified procedures that allow for successful replication. (Cal. Penal Code § 1203.099)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.