CaliforniaJudges may consider protecting victims’ families from convicted defendants
At sentencing, judges may consider barring certain convicted defendants from contacting a victim’s relatives or household members; a longer order depends on AB 1889.
What it does
At sentencing, judges may consider barring convicted defendants from contacting people in the victim’s family or household, as well as the victim.
If AB 1889 also takes effect first, judges may set certain protective orders to last until one year after a defendant’s release, if that is later than the 10-year limit.
Argument forVictims’ relatives and household members could receive added protection if a judge considers barring a convicted defendant from contacting them.
Argument againstA court could extend restrictions on a defendant beyond release from jail or prison, limiting contact with the victim for longer.
More detail
At sentencing, a court may consider barring a convicted defendant from contacting people in the victim’s family or household. This applies when a defendant is convicted of one of the crimes listed in the law, including domestic violence, human trafficking, certain gang crimes, or an offense requiring sex-offender registration. Family members include people related by marriage, domestic partnership, adoption, or close blood or legal ties. The court decides whether to issue the order. The court considers the order at sentencing. It may last up to 10 years under the operative text.
For certain convictions, a court may set a protective order to last beyond the defendant’s release from jail or prison. This applies to protective orders considered at sentencing for defendants convicted of the specified crimes, including domestic violence, human trafficking, certain gang crimes, or an offense requiring sex-offender registration. This longer period applies only if AB 1889 and this bill both take effect by January 1, 2027, and this bill is enacted after AB 1889. Otherwise, the other section of this bill applies, which allows an order to last up to 10 years. The court sets the order’s length at sentencing. Under this conditional provision, it may last up to 10 years or until one year after release from state prison or county jail, whichever is later.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 595, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 10Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 30Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 6848.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2261 Dixon Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 26In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2261 Dixon By Valladares. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 1From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 30).Major
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Jun 1In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 28Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 5542.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2261 Dixon Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 21Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 20Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 16From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14).Major
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
- Feb 19Read first time. To print.Introduced
Criminal JusticeConsumer ProtectionGovernment & Ethics