Criminal Defense Exhibits in California
Complete guide to preparing criminal defense exhibits that comply with California court requirements. Learn the correct labeling conventions, exchange deadlines, and e-filing procedures.
- California's primary rule governing exhibit preparation is CRC 3.1110.
- Plaintiffs in California label exhibits with Numbers (1, 2, 3...).
- Defendants in California label exhibits with Letters (A, B, C...).
- California courts require electronic exhibits to be filed through County-specific; most courts use Odyssey eFileCA through an approved….
- Exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel 30 days before trial (varies by county) under CRC 3.1110.
- Common criminal defense exhibits in California include police reports, body camera footage, witness statements.
- ExhibitPrep applies California exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so criminal defense case files never leave the user's computer.
California Exhibit Requirements at a Glance
| Plaintiff Exhibits | Numbers (1, 2, 3...) |
| Defendant Exhibits | Letters (A, B, C...) |
| Exchange Deadline | 30 days before trial (varies by county) |
| Primary Rule | CRC 3.1110 |
| E-Filing System | County-specific; most courts use Odyssey eFileCA through an approved… |
Common Criminal Defense Exhibits
Police Reports
Arrest reports, incident reports, supplemental reports. For California e-filing on County-specific; most courts use Odyssey eFileCA through an approved…, confirm the current file-size cap (Varies by county and EFSP — confirm with the court) before uploading.
Body Camera Footage
Screenshots and stills from body-worn cameras
Witness Statements
Prosecution and defense witness statements
Expert Reports
Forensic analysis, DNA experts, medical examinations
Character Evidence
Letters, employment records, community ties
Physical Evidence Photos
Photographs of physical evidence items
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California-Specific Considerations
- Proposition 47/57 affects felony charging
- Three strikes law requires careful exhibit review
- Realignment impacts sentencing exhibits
- SB 1437 felony murder reform considerations
How to Prepare Your Exhibits
Gather Your Documents
Collect all documents relevant to your criminal defense case. This typically includes police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, and other supporting evidence.
Convert to PDF
Convert all documents to PDF format. California courts require electronic exhibits to be filed via County-specific; most courts use Odyssey eFileCA through an approved…. Scan paper documents at 300 DPI.
Apply Exhibit Labels
Use ExhibitPrep to add California-compliant exhibit stamps. Plaintiffs use Numbers (1, 2, 3...), defendants use Letters (A, B, C...).
Exchange with Opposing Counsel
Exchange your exhibit list and copies with opposing counsel 30 days before trial (varies by county) per CRC 3.1110.
Save Hours on Exhibit Preparation
ExhibitPrep stamps all your criminal defense exhibits in minutes, not hours. Upload your documents, select the correct California template, and download court-ready exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I label criminal defense exhibits in California?
Use Numbers (1, 2, 3...) for plaintiff exhibits and Letters (A, B, C...) for defense exhibits, per CRC 3.1110. Most California counties color-code exhibit stickers: yellow for plaintiffs and petitioners, blue for defendants and respondents. ExhibitPrep's Criminal Defense templates apply the right prefix automatically, so you're not re-deriving the local convention on every filing.
When do I have to exchange criminal defense exhibits in California?
California sets the exhibit exchange window at 30 days before trial (varies by county) under CRC 3.1110, though the exact date can shift with your assigned judge's scheduling order. Confirm the deadline in your case's pretrial order before you start stamping, then batch-process the full criminal defense production in one ExhibitPrep session once it's locked in.
What e-filing system handles criminal defense exhibits in California?
California runs electronic filing through County-specific; most courts use Odyssey eFileCA through an approved…. Check the current upload cap before filing (Varies by county and EFSP — confirm with the court), export each exhibit as a text-searchable PDF, and split any long police reports into separate files so a single scanned record doesn't blow past the limit.
What exhibits come up most in a California criminal defense case?
Criminal Defense matters in California typically turn on police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, plus whatever case-specific records the dispute calls for. Proposition 47/57 affects felony charging. Stamp them all inside ExhibitPrep using the matching plaintiff or defense template, so every exhibit in the production carries a consistent, court-compliant mark before it goes to opposing counsel.
Can I stamp a large criminal defense production for California courts?
Yes. The Day Pass ($14.99) gives you unlimited stamping for 24 hours, which covers hundreds of exhibits in a single criminal defense case. Processing runs entirely in your browser, so your California case files never leave your computer. That matters here because e-filing upload caps (Varies by county and EFSP — confirm with the court) often force a large production into multiple separate uploads.
Related Resources
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ExhibitPrep provides general information about court exhibit practices, not legal advice. Requirements change — verify current rules with your court or clerk before filing.