This offense involves promoting, advertising, or distributing materials depicting minors in sexual acts. The crime targets those who facilitate the circulation of child pornography through various media channels. Conviction carries severe penalties, including prison time and mandatory sex offender registration.
This serious felony involves kidnapping someone for ransom, reward, extortion, or to commit robbery or sexual offenses. It carries one of the harshest sentences in California law, with potential life imprisonment. The crime is considered aggravated due to the additional criminal purpose beyond the kidnapping itself.
This law prohibits conduct directed at a child that would unhealthily disturb, irritate, or offend them, motivated by sexual interest. The behavior must be objectively inappropriate and offensive to a reasonable person. Conviction can result in jail time and sex offender registration requirements.
Arson is the willful and malicious burning of any structure, forest land, or property. The severity of the charge depends on what was burned and whether anyone was injured. Penalties range from 16 months to nine years in state prison depending on the circumstances.
This is the most serious form of arson, charged when someone is severely injured as a result of the fire. It carries a sentence of five to nine years in state prison. The law treats this as an aggravated offense due to the serious harm caused to victims.
Assault is an unlawful attempt, coupled with present ability, to commit a violent injury on another person. No actual physical contact is required, only the attempt or threat. Simple assault is typically a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.
This crime occurs when someone attacks or attempts to attack another person with a weapon or object capable of causing great bodily injury or death. The weapon can be anything from a firearm to a vehicle. It is a serious felony carrying two to four years in prison.
Attempted kidnapping involves taking a direct step toward forcibly moving another person a substantial distance without their consent, even if the kidnapping is not completed. The attempt itself is criminal and carries significant penalties. Sentences can include several years in state prison.
This serious felony requires proof that the defendant took a direct step toward killing someone and specifically intended to kill that person. Unlike murder, the victim survives the attack. Penalties include life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Battery is the willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon another person. Unlike assault, battery requires actual physical contact, even if minimal. Simple battery is typically a misdemeanor punishable by fines and up to six months in county jail.
This enhanced battery charge applies when the unlawful physical contact results in serious injuries to the victim. Serious bodily injury means a significant or substantial physical injury beyond minor harm. It can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances.
This law makes it illegal to prevent or dissuade a witness or victim from reporting a crime, cooperating with law enforcement, or testifying in court. It protects the integrity of the criminal justice system by ensuring witnesses can participate freely. Penalties can include up to four years in state prison.
Carjacking is the taking of a motor vehicle from another person through force or fear while the victim is in possession of the vehicle. It combines elements of robbery and vehicle theft with additional violence or intimidation. Convicted defendants face three to nine years in state prison.
This crime occurs when a parent, relative, or other person takes, detains, or conceals a child in violation of custody or visitation orders. It typically involves one parent unlawfully keeping a child from the other parent. Depending on circumstances, it can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony.
This serious felony applies when someone engages in three or more acts of substantial sexual conduct or lewd acts with a child under 14 over a period of three months or more. It was designed to address ongoing patterns of child sexual abuse. Conviction results in 6 to 16 years in state prison.
Also known as terrorist threats, this crime involves threatening to kill or seriously injure someone in a way that causes them to be in sustained fear for their safety. The threat must be specific and unequivocal, and the victim’s fear must be reasonable. It can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony.
This offense involves sending, distributing, exhibiting, or possessing with intent to distribute material depicting minors engaged in sexual conduct. The law targets those who spread child pornography rather than just possess it. Conviction carries substantial prison time and mandatory sex offender registration.
Domestic battery is the unlawful use of force or violence against an intimate partner, including spouses, cohabitants, or dating partners. While typically charged as a misdemeanor, it carries serious consequences including protective orders and potential deportation for non-citizens. Penalties include up to one year in jail and mandatory batterer’s treatment programs.
Embezzlement occurs when someone who has been entrusted with property fraudulently takes it for their own use. This crime involves a violation of trust, typically in employment or fiduciary relationships. Whether charged as a misdemeanor or felony depends on the value of property taken.
Extortion involves obtaining property or money from someone through threats of harm, exposure of secrets, or other coercive means. The crime is complete when the threat is made with intent to extort, even if no property is actually obtained. Felony extortion can result in two to four years in prison.
This sentencing enhancement adds additional prison time when a felony is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang. The enhancement can add anywhere from two years to life in prison depending on the underlying offense. It is designed to deter gang-related criminal activity.
Grand theft involves unlawfully taking property worth more than $950, or certain specific items like firearms or vehicles regardless of value. It differs from petty theft based on the value or type of property stolen. Grand theft can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances and defendant’s criminal history.
Hate crimes involve interfering with someone’s civil rights through force or threat of force because of their race, religion, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. This law allows for enhanced penalties when crimes are motivated by bias or prejudice. Violations can result in fines and up to one year in jail, or longer if combined with other offenses.
This serious felony involves depriving someone of their liberty through force, fear, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sex acts. The law targets those who exploit vulnerable individuals in the sex trade. Penalties include substantial prison time ranging from five years to life, depending on aggravating factors.
Identity theft occurs when someone willfully obtains and uses another person’s identifying information without permission for unlawful purposes. This can include using someone’s name, credit card, Social Security number, or other personal data. Depending on the circumstances, it can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony with penalties up to three years in jail.
Indecent exposure involves willfully exposing one’s genitals in the presence of others who would be offended or annoyed, with the intent to sexually arouse or gratify oneself or offend the other person. A first offense is typically a misdemeanor, but subsequent offenses or exposure to a minor can result in felony charges and sex offender registration.
Involuntary manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another person without malice during the commission of a lawful act done in an unlawful manner, or during the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony. It typically involves criminal negligence or recklessness. Penalties include two to four years in state prison.
Kidnapping involves forcibly moving another person a substantial distance without their consent through force or fear. The movement must be more than merely incidental to another crime. Simple kidnapping carries a sentence of three to eight years in state prison, with enhanced penalties for certain aggravating factors.
This misdemeanor involves engaging in or soliciting lewd conduct in a public place or place open to public view. The behavior must be offensive and sexually motivated. Conviction can result in up to six months in jail, fines, and potential sex offender registration depending on the circumstances.
This crime involves committing a lewd or lascivious act with a child who is 14 or 15 years old when the perpetrator is at least 10 years older. The act must be done with the intent of arousing or gratifying sexual desires. Conviction carries one to three years in prison and mandatory sex offender registration.
This serious felony involves willfully touching any part of a child under 14 with the intent to arouse or gratify sexual desires. The touching can be on the child’s body or the defendant’s body. Conviction results in three to eight years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration.
Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. It is divided into voluntary, involuntary, and vehicular manslaughter, each with different elements and penalties. Unlike murder, manslaughter does not require premeditation or malice aforethought.
Money laundering involves conducting or attempting to conduct financial transactions with proceeds from criminal activity to conceal the source, ownership, or control of the funds. The law targets those who help criminals legitimize illegally obtained money. Penalties can include substantial fines and up to four years in state prison.
Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being or fetus with malice aforethought. First-degree murder involves premeditation and deliberation or occurs during certain serious felonies. Second-degree murder lacks premeditation but still involves malicious intent. Penalties range from 15 years to life in prison or the death penalty for first-degree murder with special circumstances.
This felony involves willfully and maliciously discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling, occupied building, occupied vehicle, or aircraft. The discharge must be intentional and malicious, though the shooter need not intend to harm anyone. Penalties include three to seven years in state prison.
This crime involves actively participating in a criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in a pattern of criminal gang activity. The defendant must also willfully promote, further, or assist in felonious criminal conduct by gang members. Conviction carries 16 months to three years in state prison.
This misdemeanor involves possessing tools or instruments with the intent to break into a building, vehicle, or other structure to commit theft or a felony. The prosecution must prove intent to use the tools for criminal purposes, not just possession alone. Penalties include up to six months in county jail and fines.
This crime involves knowingly possessing or controlling material depicting a minor engaged in sexual conduct. Each image can constitute a separate violation, leading to multiple charges. Conviction results in up to one year in jail or three years in state prison, plus mandatory sex offender registration.
This law makes it illegal to possess certain controlled substances including cocaine, heroin, and prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Following Proposition 47, simple possession is now typically charged as a misdemeanor. Penalties include up to one year in jail, though drug treatment programs may be available as an alternative.
This sentencing enhancement applies when a defendant is armed with a firearm during the commission of a felony. It adds one to ten years to the prison sentence for the underlying felony. The enhancement applies even if the gun was not used or brandished.
This law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from owning, purchasing, or possessing a firearm. It applies regardless of how much time has passed since the conviction. Violation is a felony punishable by 16 months to three years in state prison.
California law prohibits possession of assault weapons as defined by specific characteristics or a list of banned firearms. There are limited exceptions for weapons that were legally registered before certain dates. Violation is a felony or misdemeanor punishable by up to three years in jail.
This law criminalizes agreeing to exchange money or other consideration for sexual acts, as well as soliciting such acts. Both the prostitute and the customer can be charged under this statute. It is typically a misdemeanor punishable by jail time and fines, though penalties increase for repeat offenses.
Rape is sexual intercourse accomplished against a person’s will through force, fear, threats, or when the victim is incapable of giving legal consent due to intoxication, unconsciousness, or mental incapacity. It is a serious felony carrying three to eight years in state prison or more if aggravating factors exist. Conviction requires lifetime sex offender registration.
This crime involves willfully resisting, delaying, or obstructing a law enforcement officer or emergency personnel in the performance of their duties. The resistance can be passive or active but must be intentional. It is typically a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines.
Robbery is the felonious taking of personal property from another person or in their immediate presence against their will through force or fear. It differs from theft by the element of force or intimidation used. Penalties range from two to nine years in state prison, depending on whether it is first or second-degree robbery.
This crime involves sending, distributing, or exhibiting harmful sexual material to a minor with the intent to arouse or seduce them. The material must depict sexual conduct and be sent for purposes of seduction or sexual gratification. Conviction results in up to one year in jail or three years in prison and sex offender registration.
Sexual battery is the touching of an intimate part of another person against their will for sexual gratification, arousal, or abuse. The touching can occur through clothing. Depending on circumstances such as restraint of the victim or whether the victim was institutionalized, it can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony.
This offense involves conduct such as depicting a minor in sexual acts, developing images of child pornography, or allowing a child to engage in prostitution. It covers various forms of child sexual exploitation beyond direct abuse. Penalties depend on the specific conduct but include prison time and sex offender registration.
This serious felony involves penetrating another person’s genital or anal opening with a foreign object against their will or when they are incapable of consent. The penetration must be accomplished by force, threats, or when the victim cannot legally consent. Penalties range from three to eight years in prison or more with aggravating factors.
This crime involves sexual conduct consisting of contact between the penis of one person and the anus of another, accomplished by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of bodily injury. It is a serious felony with penalties ranging from three to eight years in state prison. Conviction requires lifetime sex offender registration.
Stalking involves willfully and maliciously following, harassing, or threatening another person to the extent that they fear for their safety or the safety of their family. The behavior must occur over a period of time and be credible enough to cause reasonable fear. It can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on circumstances and prior convictions.
Statutory rape is unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under 18 years old when the defendant is not the spouse of the minor. Consent is not a defense because minors cannot legally consent to sex. Whether charged as a misdemeanor or felony depends on the age difference between the parties.
Unlawful assembly occurs when two or more people assemble for the purpose of disturbing the peace or committing unlawful acts. The assembly itself becomes criminal when participants refuse to disperse after being ordered to do so by authorities. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.
This enhancement applies when a firearm is used during the commission of certain felonies including robbery. It adds significant additional prison time to the underlying offense, ranging from 10 years to life. The law imposes these harsh penalties to deter gun violence during criminal acts.
This crime involves using, employing, persuading, or coercing a minor to participate in the production of pornographic materials. It targets those who exploit children in creating sexual content. Conviction results in substantial prison time and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.
Vehicular manslaughter involves causing the death of another person while driving a vehicle with gross negligence or while committing an unlawful act. It can also apply when driving under the influence results in death. Penalties vary based on the degree of negligence and whether alcohol was involved, ranging from probation to six years in prison.
This crime occurs when someone intentionally violates the terms of a valid protective or restraining order. The violation must be willful and knowing. Penalties can include up to one year in jail for a misdemeanor or up to three years for a felony if the violation involves an act of violence or credible threat.
Voluntary manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being in a sudden quarrel or heat of passion, without malice. It is an intentional killing that would be murder but for the existence of adequate provocation that would cause a reasonable person to act rashly. Penalties include 3 to 11 years in state prison.