As used in this title:

(a) “Witness” means any person who has been summoned, or is reasonably expected to be summoned, to testify in a criminal matter, including grand jury proceedings, for the people whether or not formal legal proceedings have been filed. Active or passive participation in the criminal matter does not disqualify an individual from being a witness. “Witness” may also apply to family, friends, or associates of the witness who are deemed by local or state prosecutors to be endangered.

Terms Used In California Penal Code 14021

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Penal Code 7
  • Protection: means formal admission into a witness protection program established by this title memorialized by a written agreement between local or state prosecutors and the witness. See California Penal Code 14021
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Penal Code 7
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Witness: means any person who has been summoned, or is reasonably expected to be summoned, to testify in a criminal matter, including grand jury proceedings, for the people whether or not formal legal proceedings have been filed. See California Penal Code 14021

(b) “Credible evidence” means evidence leading a reasonable person to believe that substantial reliability should be attached to the evidence.

(c) “Protection” means formal admission into a witness protection program established by this title memorialized by a written agreement between local or state prosecutors and the witness.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 210, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2003.)