It was established in 2000 as the California Criminal Law Review.

It was renamed Boalt Journal of Criminal Law in 2004, eventually acquiring the current name in 2006.

[1] The journal publishes work concerning emerging issues of both substantive and procedural criminal law, as well as "articles that discuss issues unique to California and other western states.

"[1] The journal publishes a Fall Edition in January and a Spring Edition in June every year and is completely digital.

[1] The journal is ranked as the 6th criminal law and procedure journal in the Washington and Lee University School of Law's journal ranking list.