California legal term
Harassment in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Harassment” 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 “Harassment” mean in California criminal law?
“Harassment” means a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that a reasonable person would consider as seriously alarming, seriously annoying, seriously tormenting, or seriously terrorizing the person and that serves no legitimate purpose. (Cal. Penal Code § 653.2)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.