California Penal Code §667.61 — One Strike Law (Sex Offenses)
PC §667.61 — the 'One Strike Law' — is a sentence-alternative statute that replaces the standard triad for enumerated forcible sex offenses when one or more aggravating circumstances is pleaded and proven. Depending on the combination, exposure is 15-to-life, 25-to-life, or LWOP without parole eligibility for 15 or 25 years.
Reviewed by Daniel S. Rubin, CA Bar 302093 · Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney · One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) Cases in All LA County Courts
01 — Quick Facts
PC §667.61 — One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | California Penal Code §667.61 — One Strike Law |
| Code Type | Penal Code (PC) |
| Classification | Sentencing enhancement statute (not standalone charge) |
| Predicate Offenses | §261, §264.1, §286, §287, §288, §288.5, §289 |
| §667.61(a) — 25-to-life | Two or more (b) circumstances OR one (d) circumstance |
| §667.61(b) — 15-to-life | One (e) circumstance |
| §667.61(j)(1) — LWOP | Victim under 14 + kidnap/burglary/tie-bind/GBI (aggravated (d)) |
| §667.61(l) — 25-to-life | Victim under 14 + single (e) circumstance |
| Multiple Victims | Automatic 25-to-life under §667.61(e)(4) |
| Strike | Yes — automatic strike and violent felony |
| Parole | No parole for 15 or 25 years; LWOP tier = no parole ever |
| If Charged | Call (213) 723-2337 immediately |
01 — What Is PC §667.61?
What Is California Penal Code §667.61?
PC §667.61 Reads:
"Any person who is convicted of an offense specified in subdivision (c) under one or more of the circumstances specified in subdivision (d) or under two or more of the circumstances specified in subdivision (e) shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for 25 years to life."
— California Penal Code §667.61(a)
One Strike is not a charge — it is a sentencing regime. When the DA pleads and proves the required combination of predicate offense (subdivision (c)) plus aggravating circumstance (subdivision (d) or (e)), the standard sentence for the sex offense is replaced with an indeterminate life term. The trial court has no discretion to impose the ordinary triad.
Predicate Offenses (subdivision (c))
§261 rape · §264.1 rape/penetration in concert · §286 sodomy · §287 oral copulation · §288 lewd act on minor · §288.5 continuous sexual abuse · §289 forcible penetration. Each is only 'One-Strikeable' when paired with a (d)/(e) aggravator.
Official Sources
02 — Elements of the Crime
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove Under PC §667.61
The DA must plead and prove: (1) a predicate offense from (c), and (2) one or more circumstances from (d) or (e).
Predicate Conviction — Subd. (c)
One of the enumerated forcible sex offenses (§261, §264.1, §286, §287, §288, §288.5, §289).
Subd. (d) Circumstance — Any One Triggers 25-to-Life
(1) Prior conviction of another (c) offense; (2) kidnap substantially increasing risk of harm; (3) burglary of inhabited structure; (4) mayhem or torture during offense; (5) death of victim; (6) tie/bind/gag; (7) foreign-object penetration with force.
Subd. (e) Circumstance — Two Triggers 25-to-Life; One Triggers 15-to-Life
(1) Kidnap; (3) burglary; (4) multiple victims; (5) tie/bind; (6) weapon use; (7) GBI infliction.
Pleading Requirement
The circumstance must be pleaded in the accusatory pleading and either admitted or found true by the jury.
04 — Penalties
Penalties for PC §667.61 One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) in California
One Strike sentencing tiers depend on the combination of aggravators.
| Charge | Code | Prison Term | Probation | Strike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One (e) circumstance | PC §667.61(b) | 15 years to life | Prohibited | Yes |
| Two (e) OR one (d) | PC §667.61(a) | 25 years to life | Prohibited | Yes |
| Victim <14 + single (e) | PC §667.61(l) | 25 years to life | Prohibited | Yes |
| Victim <14 + aggravated (d) | PC §667.61(j)(1) | Life without parole (LWOP) | Prohibited | Yes |
| Multiple victims (any combo) | PC §667.61(e)(4) | 25 years to life per victim | Prohibited | Yes |
Sentencing Enhancements
Consecutive Sentencing
PC §667.6(d)
Full consecutive terms for each violent-sex count involving separate occasions.
Firearm Enhancement
PC §12022.53
10/20/25-to-life firearm enhancements stack on top of One Strike.
Habitual Sex Offender
PC §667.71
Parallel life-term statute for repeat violent-sex offenders (25-to-life).
Additional Consequences Beyond Prison
- Lifetime PC §290 Tier 3 sex-offender registration
- No parole hearing until 15 or 25 years served (or never, on LWOP)
- Automatic strike and violent felony designation
- Immigration: aggravated felony — permanent bar
- Custody-credit limitations under §2933.1 (15% max)
Sentencing References
05 — Defense Strategies
How Rubin Law Defends PC §667.61 One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) Charges
One Strike defenses attack the predicate offense and each pleaded circumstance separately.
Defeat the Predicate
One Strike collapses if the underlying §261/§289/§288 conviction fails or reduces to a non-(c) offense.
Predicate
Attack the (d) / (e) Circumstance
Each circumstance requires separate factual proof. Kidnap requires substantial harm increase; burglary requires felonious entry; multi-victim requires same information.
Element
Pleading Defect Challenge
Failure to plead the circumstance in the accusatory pleading (Apprendi/Alleyne) bars One Strike sentencing.
Pleading
Bifurcation Motion
Bifurcate the circumstance-finding phase to prevent prejudice from prior-offense proof at guilt phase.
Procedure
Plea to Non-Predicate
Plea negotiations target reductions to §243.4 or non-(c) offenses to eliminate One Strike exposure entirely.
Plea
Constitutional Sources
07 — Court Process
How PC §667.61 One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) Cases Move Through Los Angeles Courts
One Strike cases require heightened pretrial and pleading discipline.
- 1
Step 1 — Filing
DA pleads specific (d)/(e) circumstances in the information — mandatory Apprendi disclosure.
- 2
Step 2 — Preliminary Hearing
Prosecution shows evidence of predicate + circumstance; magistrate can strike circumstances if unsupported.
- 3
Step 3 — Bifurcation & Motion Practice
§995 motions, bifurcation of prior-circumstance phase, and evidence-code motions on prior sexual conduct.
- 4
Step 4 — Jury Instruction & Verdict Forms
Separate verdict forms for guilt and each circumstance — required by Blakely/Apprendi.
- 5
Step 5 — Sentencing
Mandatory life term imposed — no discretion, no probation, no strike-in-the-interest-of-justice under §1385.
- 6
Step 6 — Appeal / Habeas
Aggressive appellate review of pleading defects, sufficiency of evidence, and jury-verdict form errors.
Los Angeles Courts That Handle PC §667.61 One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) Cases
One Strike cases are handled at DA sex-crimes vertical calendars.
Reviewed by Your Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin — Los Angeles One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) Defense Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin has defended clients charged with one strike law (sex offenses) and related offenses in Los Angeles County courts — including Clara Shortridge Foltz, Van Nuys, Compton, and Pomona. He understands that these cases are won in the details: the suppression hearing that eliminates key evidence, the preliminary hearing cross-examination that exposes a weak witness, the penalty phase argument that keeps a client out of the worst outcome.
This page was written and reviewed by Daniel A. Rubin, Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, CA State Bar 302093, with 10+ years of experience defending clients charged under PC §667.61 in Los Angeles County. Last reviewed: July 2026.
CA Bar 302093 | Whittier Law School | Rising Star — Super Lawyers 2019–2023 | One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) Cases Throughout LA County
09 — FAQs
PC §667.61 One Strike Law (Sex Offenses) Questions — Los Angeles
Can PC §667.61 be dismissed 'in the interest of justice'?
No. §667.61(g) explicitly bars §1385 dismissal of One Strike circumstances. Only Apprendi/Alleyne pleading challenges or evidentiary defeats work.
What triggers 25-to-life vs 15-to-life?
One (d) circumstance OR two (e) circumstances = 25-to-life. A single (e) circumstance alone = 15-to-life. Multi-victim (e)(4) alone triggers 25-to-life.
What triggers LWOP under One Strike?
§667.61(j)(1) — a victim under 14 combined with an aggravated (d) circumstance (kidnap, burglary, mayhem, torture, death, tie/bind, or foreign-object force) triggers LWOP.
Can I get parole under One Strike?
Under 15-to-life or 25-to-life tiers, you become parole-eligible after the minimum. Under §667.61(j)(1) LWOP, there is no parole eligibility.
Available 24/7 — Free Consultation
Facing One Strike Exposure in Los Angeles?
Every pleaded circumstance is a separate fight. Rubin Law, P.C. — (213) 723-2337.