Criminal procedure.

Existing law requires that a declaration in support of the warrant of probable cause for arrest be a sworn statement made in writing. Existing law also authorizes the magistrate to take an oral statement under oath under specified conditions that provide for the use of facsimile transmission equipment or electronic mail if prescribed conditions are met, including, but not limited to, the inclusion of the declarant's digital signature. This bill would specify that the declaration may be by telephone and computer server and that the signature may be an electronic signature, and would make conforming changes. Existing law requires the magistrate to print related electronic documents and sign the warrant if the warrant is granted. This bill would require, if the documents are received by electronic mail or computer server, that these documents be subsequently printed and would specify that the magistrate's signature may be in the form of a digital signature or an electronic signature.