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California legal term

Policy manual in California Criminal Law

Current through 2026 California legislative session

In California criminal law, “Policy manual” 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 “Policy manual” mean in California criminal law?

“Policy manual” means any general orders, patrol manual, duty manual, or other written document or collection of documents that provides field or investigative personnel with policies, procedures, or guidelines for responding to or investigating crimes, complaints, or incidents. (Cal. Penal Code § 368.5)

Statutes defining or using this term

Related terms in the same statutes

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.