{"data":{"id":"us-ca/pen-738","jurisdiction":"us-ca","citation":"PEN § 738","heading":"","body":"Before an information is filed there must be a preliminary examination of the case against the defendant and an order holding him to answer made under Section 872. The proceeding for a preliminary examination must be commenced by written complaint, as provided elsewhere in this code.","path":["Penal Code - PEN","PART 2. OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE [681. - 1620.]","TITLE 2. MODE OF PROSECUTION [737. - 745.]"],"source_url":"https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zip","current_through":"2026-09-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T05:56:33Z","sha256":"56afd5a65eaab81445cb69174b335df6d3115ce34f988f06788b2f6f0b2f92d9","source_id":"us-ca","stale":false,"prev":"us-ca/pen-737","next":"us-ca/pen-739"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}