California legal term
Sight or sound contact in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Sight or sound contact” 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 “Sight or sound contact” mean in California criminal law?
“Sight or sound contact” means any physical, clear visual, or direct verbal contact that is not brief and inadvertent. (Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 208.55)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.