California legal term
Indian tribe in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Indian tribe” 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 “Indian tribe” mean in California criminal law?
“Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians recognized as eligible for the services provided to Indians by the Secretary of the Interior because of their status as Indians, including any Alaska Native village as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1602 of Title 43 of the United States Code. (Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 224.1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.