California Penal Code
Penal Code § 647 Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication
Covers a range of disorderly conduct offenses, including being under the influence in public and unable to care for oneself.
Statute text, verbatim
What the code actually says
The verbatim text for this section is being re-verified. Read it on the official California legislative site in the meantime.
Read on leginfo.legislature.ca.govReport readiness
What a report needs to survive this charge.
Knowing the code is the easy part. Cases get kicked when the narrative never documents an element the prosecutor has to prove.
Elements to document
- The suspect was in a public place
- The suspect was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination
- The suspect was unable to exercise care for their own safety or others
- Or the suspect obstructed a public way
Common report defects
- Objective symptoms of intoxication are omitted or reduced to a conclusion
- Inability to care for self is asserted without observable facts
- Public place element is never established
Abbreviated for reference. Report960 runs the full element and defect checklist against your narrative and quotes the exact passage behind every finding. This page is not legal advice.
Related sections
Charges that travel together.
Check a Penal Code § 647 report
Every element, checked.Every finding, quotable.
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