Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 2605

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

(a) During the initial intake and classification process, and in a private setting, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall ask each individual entering into the custody of the department to specify all of the following:

(1) The individual's gender identity of female, male, or nonbinary.

(2) Whether the individual identifies as transgender, nonbinary, or intersex.

(3) The individual's gender pronoun and honorific.

(b) A person incarcerated by the department may not be disciplined for refusing to answer, or for not disclosing complete information in response to, the questions pursuant to this section.

(c) At any time, a person under the jurisdiction of the department may inform designated facility staff of their gender identity, and designated facility staff shall promptly repeat the process of offering the individual an opportunity to specify the gender pronoun and honorific most appropriate for staff to use in reference to that individual, in accordance with subdivision (a).

(d) Staff, contractors, and volunteers of the department shall not consistently fail to use the gender pronoun and honorific an individual has specified in all verbal and written communications with or regarding the individual that involve use of a pronoun and honorific.

(e) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Gender pronoun” means a third-person singular personal pronoun, such as “he,” “she,” or “they.”

(2) “Honorific” means a form of respectful address typically combined with an individual's surname.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 2605 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-2605/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard