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California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 1398

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) In addition to any other penalty or fine provided by law, if a corporation is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense, the court may order the corporation to pay an additional fine, known as the corporate white collar criminal enhancement, pursuant to this section.

(b) The court may determine the amount of the fine.  The fine shall not exceed the greater of either of the following:

(1) Two times the value of the taking or loss, whichever is greater, if the offense resulted in the taking of, or loss to, another person's or entity's money, labor, or real or personal property.

(2) Twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000).

(c) In determining the amount of the fine under this section, the court shall consider all of the following:

(1) The nature and seriousness of the offense.

(2) The number of offenses committed.

(3) The persistence of the criminal conduct.

(4) The length of time over which the criminal conduct occurred.

(5) The willfulness of the corporation's criminal conduct.

(6) The corporation's assets, liabilities, and net worth, if available to the court.

(d) If, after a hearing in open court, the judge exercises their discretion in assessing the fine, they shall state the reason on the record.

(e) Any moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the California Crime Victims Fund established under Section 13839.

(f) For purposes of this section, a “corporation” means a firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, public entity, or any other legal entity.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 1398 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-1398/

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