California · Penal Code

PEN §647.3: (a) A person who reports being a victim of, or a witness to, a serious felony as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute provides that persons reporting certain serious crimes shall not be arrested for related misdemeanor drug offenses or prostitution-related offenses, and prohibits using condom possession as grounds for prostitution-related arrest.

Read the full statutory text

(a) A person who reports being a victim of, or a witness to, a serious felony as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7, an assault in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 245, domestic violence in violation of Section 273.5, extortion in violation of Section 518, human trafficking in violation of Section 236.1, sexual battery in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 243.4, or stalking in violation of Section 646.9 shall not be arrested for any of the following offenses if that offense is related to the crime that the person is reporting or if the person was engaged in that offense at or around the time that the person was the victim of or witness to the crime they are reporting: (1) A misdemeanor violation of the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code). (2) A violation of Section 372 or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647, or former Section 653.22, if the offense is related to an act of prostitution. (b) Possession of condoms in any amount shall not provide a basis for probable cause for arrest for a violation of Section 372 or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647, or former Section 653.22 if the offense is related to an act of prostitution.

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