California Penal Code 647 PC: What You Need To Know

Penal Code 647 PC is the California statute that defines the crimes of lewd conduct, prostitution, panhandling, public intoxication, illegal squatting, loitering, and invasion of privacy as crimes of disorderly conduct, and are divided into sections within the State document .

Keep in mind that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, for example, generally does not prosecute most PC 647 cases unless the suspect has been a repeat offender in the last 24 months as a misdemeanor.

How is section 647 PC of the California Penal Code organized?

By 9 statutes according to the crime committed or attempted:

  • 647th PC: Lewd acts in public
  • 647b PC: Prostitution
  • 647c PC: Begging
  • 647e PC: Illegal Occupation
  • 647f PC: Public intoxication
  • 647h PC: stalking or loitering
  • 647i PC: Spy on another
  • 647j PC: Criminal invasion of privacy
  • 647j4 PC: revengeful or vindictive acts

What is the fine or penalty for this type of infraction?

Violation of any of the above statutes is charged as a misdemeanor, as we have already mentioned, and most are punishable by custody in the county jail for up to six months, and/or a maximum fine of around $1,000. .

Keep in mind that a judge may grant a defendant probation for the misdemeanor instead of jail time if the crime was not that serious.

Are there immigration consequences for these crimes?

Generally not, but if you are a foreign national and your behavior is deemed by local authorities to be a risk to the welfare and security of the State, you could be deported or labeled inadmissible in California. However, there is very little chance of this happening.

What do I do if I am falsely accused?

Many of the PC 647 laws state that a defendant is guilty only if they committed the crime while they were in public, or someone was looking at them.

Therefore, saying that the incident did not occur if the victim does not have evidence or witnesses who can prove the fact is a valid defense for the aggressor, believing that this can exempt him from guilt. However, keep in mind that there are processes with which the circumstances of the crime and what really happened can be verified.

On the other hand, there are people who wrongly accuse others of committing any of these crimes with the purpose of taking advantage of the situation, extorting, intimidating or through personal favors.

Example: A man lies and says that his ex-wife turned to prostitution because he was full of anger or jealousy and would mistreat her if she tried to go to the police.

If the criminal admits guilt, a valid defense to suing as a victim is that he was wrongly blamed for a crime he did not commit or for which there is no evidence.

If you consider it necessary as a person who is accused of a crime such as the ones we have mentioned, take legal action with a lawyer specialized in criminal defense against the aggressor to know the options you have in case you go to court or reach an agreement that benefits to those affected