Criminal justice data.

Existing law requires criminal justice agencies to compile records and data, including a summary of arrests, pretrial proceedings, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, sentencing, incarceration, rehabilitation, and release, about criminal offenders. Existing law requires agencies to report this information to the Department of Justice for each arrest made, and requires the superior court that disposes of a case for which that information was reported to ensure that a disposition report of that case is reported to the department. This bill, commencing July 1, 2020, would require the information reported to include additional information related to identifying the arrestee. By increasing duties on local criminal justice agencies, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes each public agency and bona fide research body immediately concerned with the prevention or control of crime, the quality of criminal justice, or the custody or correction of offenders to be provided with criminal offender record information required for the performance of its duties, provided that any material identifying individuals is not transferred, revealed, or used for other than research or statistical activities, that reports or publications derived from that information do not identify specific individuals, and that the agency or body pays the cost of the processing of the data as determined by the Attorney General. This bill, commencing July 1, 2020, would require that criminal offender record information to include criminal court records, and would prohibit a person from being denied access to that information solely on the basis of that person's criminal record, unless that person has been convicted of a felony or any other offense that involves moral turpitude, dishonesty, or fraud. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.