California legal term
Serious exposure in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Serious exposure” 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 “Serious exposure” mean in California criminal law?
“Serious exposure” means any exposure to a hazardous substance, when the exposure occurs as a result of an incident or exposure over time and to a degree or in an amount sufficient to create a substantial probability that death or great bodily harm in the future would result from the exposure. (Cal. Penal Code § 387)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.