California legal term
punishment in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “punishment” 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 “punishment” mean in California criminal law?
“punishment” means the imposition of sanctions. (Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 202)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.