Skip to main content
US Criminal Defense.org
Menu

California statute

Cal. Penal Code § 1398

Current through 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12)

Part of Chapter 9: Proceedings Against Corporations, California Penal Code.

Full text of Cal. Penal Code § 1398

Statutory text current through the 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of California.

Cal. Penal Code § 1398Primary source, current through the 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12)
(a) In addition to any other penalty or fine provided by law, if a corporation is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense, the court may order the corporation to pay an additional fine, known as the corporate white collar criminal enhancement, pursuant to this section. (b) The court may determine the amount of the fine. The fine shall not exceed the greater of either of the following: (1) Two times the value of the taking or loss, whichever is greater, if the offense resulted in the taking of, or loss to, another person’s or entity’s money, labor, or real or personal property. (2) Twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000). (c) In determining the amount of the fine under this section, the court shall consider all of the following: (1) The nature and seriousness of the offense. (2) The number of offenses committed. (3) The persistence of the criminal conduct. (4) The length of time over which the criminal conduct occurred. (5) The willfulness of the corporation’s criminal conduct. (6) The corporation’s assets, liabilities, and net worth, if available to the court. (d) If, after a hearing in open court, the judge exercises their discretion in assessing the fine, they shall state the reason on the record. (e) Any moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the California Crime Victims Fund established under Section 13839. (f) For purposes of this section, a “corporation” means a firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, public entity, or any other legal entity.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.