Search Results

Showing 111 - 120 of 635 results

Handbooks

California Public Records Act Primer

[…] agencies, with few exceptions for entities like the California Legislature, the courts and judicial agencies, which are subject to their own access requirements, as outlined in the handbook. All public colleges and universities, including their police departments. California law enforcement agencies at all levels, such as sheriff’s offices and police departments. This includes district attorneys.
- Government Transparency and Accountability
July 8, 2024
Posts

FAC To LAPD: Police Bodycam Footage is a Public Record and Must Be Released

The First Amendment Coalition recently urged the Los Angeles Police Department to promptly and publicly release footage from "bodycams" — tiny, body-worn cameras now used by thousands of police officers in the nation's third largest police department. FAC submitted written comments to the Los Angeles Police Commission in response to that agency's request for public […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
June 8, 2017
Posts

CA Senate Bill 1421 Would Bring Desperately Needed Transparency to Police Misconduct Files

The First Amendment Coalition strongly supports California Senate Bill 1421, which would bring long-overdue transparency to records relating to police misconduct. The bill would require disclosure of records relating to investigations of serious police misconduct, including officer-involved shootings and instances where police officers have lied under oath. Law enforcement officers are alone among public […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
April 9, 2018
Latest News

Blog Cases

FAC suit against San Diego yields previously secret records on police use of invasive cell phone surveillance tool

The Stingray is a controversial cell phone surveillance tool used by police departments in major US cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and San Diego. Also known as an "IMSI catcher," the Stingray operates by mimicking a cell phone tower, which causes cell phones in the vicinity to transmit information revealing […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
February 2, 2016
Latest News

Cases Press Release

FAC Sues CA Attorney General to Force Disclosure of Police Misconduct Files

The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) filed suit today against California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for failing to comply with the state’s new, landmark police transparency law. The suit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, seeks the release of records regarding serious police misconduct — records that all state and local agencies are now required […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
February 14, 2019
Latest News

California Reporting Project Wins 2019 FAC Award for Police Accountability Coverage

[…] is the recipient of the 2019 Free Speech & Open Government Award, given in recognition of the project’s groundbreaking statewide campaign to bring to light records of police misconduct.The project, an unprecedented collaboration of competing newsrooms, started as a cooperative effort between the Bay Area News Group/Southern California News Group, Capital Public Radio, Investigative […]

December 2, 2019
Asked and Answered

CPRA

Destruction of public records

Do local police departments have the right to destroy police logs a month (or any time) after their original publication?

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

First Amendment

Can police remove lawn sign protesting police brutality?

I have been retaliated against for complaining about a police officer beating and raping me. Many crimes were committed by cops in the cover-up, but I have been completely silenced. I put up a sign in my front yard and got an instant response by police. I need to know if they have any […]

March 27, 2010
Asked and Answered

CPRA Police Records

Police deny request for 911 tape

[…] was determined to be a knife wound the coroner declined to rule on whether the incident was a suicide or homicide. Prior to my formal request, the police refused to discuss the case citing its "ongoing nature." My formal request to review the 911 call for service was denied because it was not deemed […]

December 30, 2011
Asked and Answered

CPRA

CPRA request for state agency’s contracts granted, but price-tag redacted

March 25, 2013