California legal term
probation in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “probation” 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 “probation” mean in California criminal law?
“probation” means the suspension of the imposition or execution of a sentence and the order of conditional and revocable release in the community under the supervision of a probation officer. (Cal. Penal Code § 1203)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.