California · Penal Code

PEN §11197: No person sentenced under California law who is committed or transferred to an institution outside of this state shall be competent to testify for the prosecution in any criminal proceeding in this st

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes procedural requirements for using testimony from California-sentenced prisoners held in out-of-state institutions as prosecution witnesses, including notice and interview opportunities for defense counsel.

Read the full statutory text

No person sentenced under California law who is committed or transferred to an institution outside of this state shall be competent to testify for the prosecution in any criminal proceeding in this state unless counsel for each defendant in such proceeding is notified that the prosecution may call the person as a witness and is given an opportunity to interview the person no less than 10 days before the commencement of the proceeding or, in the event the prosecution is not at that time considering the possibility of using such testimony, the notice and opportunity for interview shall be given at the earliest possible time. Nothing in this section shall be construed to compel the prisoner to submit to such an interview.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.