BlackletterCalifornia law

Penal Code § 210.5

CHAPTER 3.5. Hostages

Current as of September 28, 2026Pen. Code, § 210.5Official source ↗

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 284. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.

Every person who commits the offense of false imprisonment, as defined in Section 236, against a person for purposes of protection from arrest, which substantially increases the risk of harm to the victim, or for purposes of using the person as a shield is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for three, five, or eight years.