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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 4Art. 4§ 20431 Jail Officer Classification Rules

§ 20431 Jail Officer Classification Rules

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 20431 Jail Officer Classification Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •Jail workers who mainly watch over prisoners are considered local police officers.
  • •People like clerks, teachers, or cooks in jails are not counted as police officers, even if they sometimes help with prisoners.
  • •This rule only applies if the city or agency agrees to it in their contract.

Example

A person works in a city jail, and their main job is to guard prisoners.

This person is considered a local police officer under the law because their primary job is watching over prisoners.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 20431 Jail Officer Classification Rules

“Local police officer” also includes any employee of a contracting agency that is a city, who is employed in a jail or a detention or correctional facility and having as his or her primary duty and responsibility the supervision and custody of persons committed to the jail or facility. It shall not include persons employed as clerks, typists, teachers, instructors, or psychologists or to provide food, maintenance, health, or supporting services, even though responsibility for custody and control of persons so committed may be incident to, or imposed in connection with, that service. This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of a contracting agency until the agency elects to be subject to this section by contract or by amendment to its contract with the board, made pursuant to Section 20474 or by express provision in its contract with the board. (Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

Local police officercontracting agencysupervision and custodySection 20474

Related Statutes

  • § 20427 Juvenile Bureau Officer Inclusion
  • § 20426 Police Officer Retirement Coverage
  • § 20439 County Jail Officer Definition
  • § 20420 Public Safety Employee Coverage
  • § 20422 Emergency Medical Personnel Inclusion

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 20431.
View Official Source