California Penal Code, Part 2 — Criminal Procedure – 2026
Part 2 of the Penal Code, 1,366 sections, which is California's criminal procedure — the Rules of Court say comparatively little about it. It opens at section 692 with lawful resistance to a public offense and the intervention of the officers of justice, then runs the whole course of a criminal case: the local jurisdiction of public offenses and the time within which a prosecution must commence, complaints before magistrates, arrest and how it is made, citations for misdemeanors, and the examination and commitment of the accused. Title 4 is grand jury proceedings, its formation, powers and duties; Title 5 the pleadings, including the accusatory pleading and the demurrer. The pretrial title covers arraignment, the plea, discovery from section 1054, and the motion to set aside the indictment or information. Then trial by jury and its conduct, the verdict, the new trial motion, judgment and sentence, and the appeal. Also here: diversion and deferred entry of judgment, electronic monitoring, and the writs of habeas corpus and error coram nobis.
Browse all 1366 rules of the 2026 edition organized by section below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.