California legal term
Obscene matter in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Obscene matter” 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 “Obscene matter” mean in California criminal law?
“Obscene matter” means matter, taken as a whole, that to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, that, taken as a whole, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (Cal. Penal Code § 311)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.