California legal term
investigation in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “investigation” 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 “investigation” mean in California criminal law?
“investigation” means any work conducted by sworn or nonsworn staff to determine whether a prohibited person possesses one or more firearms, whether to remove the person from the database, or whether to shift the person to the pending caseload. (Cal. Penal Code § 30012)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.