California: Let’s Get All Police Policies and Training Materials Online

Update: Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed S.B. 345 on Oct. 14, 2017. You can read his veto message here. 

One of the best ways to understand law enforcement agencies is to review the policies, protocols, and training materials that officers must follow, whether it’s regarding the deployment of surveillance technology or the use of deadly force. 

Tell California Gov. Jerry Brown to sign S.B. 345 to require default transparency for law enforcement rules and training material across the state.

The process for obtaining these records can be onerous for members of the public who must file request after request under the California Public Records Act, and the agencies that must field these piecemeal inquiries.  S.B. 345 would create a statewide standard for disclosure, requiring every agency to publish their “current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials” on the Internet by January 1, 2019.

The bill is one of the few remaining transparency measures after a session where key reforms fell by the wayside. S.B. 345, however, is unusual in that not only does it have the support of EFF and organizations representing criminal defenders, it has also received significant backing from rank-and-file law enforcement associations.

Speak out now to demand transparency by default for law enforcement across the state.