Police Transparency

Release of Peace Officer Personnel Records 

California Penal Code §§ 832.7 and 832.8 mandate the public release of peace officer personnel records in accordance with the California Public Records Act (Section 6250 of the Government Code). Amendments to Cal. Penal Code §§ 832.7 and 832.8 went into effect in 2019 and 2022, with the implementation of Senate Bills 1421 and 16, respectfully.

Cal. Penal Code § 832.7 mandates the release of records pertaining to the following peace officer personnel records:

• A record relating to the report, investigation, or findings of any of the following:
  • An incident involving the discharge of a firearm at a person by a peace officer or custodial officer.
  • An incident involving the use of force against a person by a peace officer or custodial officer that resulted in death or great bodily injury.
  • A sustained finding involving a complaint that alleges unreasonable or excessive force.
  • A sustained finding that an officer failed to intervene against another officer using force that is clearly unreasonable or excessive.
• Any record relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency that a peace officer or custodial officer engaged in sexual assault involving a member of the public.
• Any record relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency involving dishonesty by a peace officer or custodial officer directly relating to the reporting, investigation, or prosecution of a crime, or directly relating to the reporting of, or investigation of misconduct by, another peace officer or custodial officer, including, but not limited to, any false statements, filing false reports, destruction, falsifying, or concealing of evidence, or perjury.
• Any record relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency that a peace officer or custodial officer engaged in conduct including, but not limited to, verbal statements, writings, online posts, recordings, and gestures, involving prejudice or discrimination against a person on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status.
• Any record relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency that the peace officer made an unlawful arrest or conducted an unlawful search.

Cal. Penal Code § 832.7 also provides direction on the types of records and information which shall not be publicly disclosed as part of any public release. Such direction is compulsory and requires agencies to redact or withhold records in accordance with the direction provided.

Public Records Request:

To submit a Public Records Request, please click here.