Section 666.1.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 666.1.
in effect(a)
(1)
Notwithstanding any other law, a person who has two or more prior convictions for any of the offenses listed in paragraph (2), and who is convicted of petty theft or shoplifting, is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. A second or subsequent conviction of this section is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or by imprisonment in the state prison.
(2)
This section applies to the following offenses, including a conviction that occurred before the effective date of this section:
(A)
Petty theft, as described in Section 488 or 490.2.
(B)
Grand theft, as described in Sections 487, 487h, and in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 484) of Title 13 of Part 1.
(C)
Theft from an elder or dependent adult, as described in Section 368.
(D)
The theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, as described in Section 10851 of the Vehicle Code.
(E)
Burglary, as described in Section 459.
(F)
Carjacking, as described in Section 215.
(G)
Robbery, as described in Section 211.
(H)
Receiving stolen property, as described in Section 496.
(I)
Shoplifting, as
described in Section 459.5.
(J)
Identity theft and mail theft, as described in Section 530.5.
(b)
A person subject to charging under this section or actually charged with this section may be referred by a prosecuting attorney’s office or by a county probation department to a theft diversion or deferred entry of judgment program pursuant to Section 1001.81. lf appropriate, a person admitted to such a program may also be referred to a substance abuse treatment program.
(c)
Upon an arrest for a violation of this section, the court shall require judicial review prior to release to make an individualized determination of risk to public safety and likelihood to return to court.
(d)
This section shall not be construed to preclude prosecution or punishment
pursuant to any other law.
References
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 10851.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1170.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 488.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 487.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 484.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 368.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 459.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 215.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 211.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 496.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 459.5.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 530.5.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1001.81.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026