California · Penal Code

PEN §688: No person charged with a public offense may be subjected, before conviction, to any more restraint than is necessary for his detention to answer the charge.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes a procedural rule that persons accused of crimes cannot be subjected to unnecessary restraint before conviction—only restraint needed to ensure they appear to answer the charges is permitted.

Read the full statutory text
No person charged with a public offense may be subjected, before conviction, to any more restraint than is necessary for his detention to answer the charge.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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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.