SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – District Attorney and Mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis says she is one step closer to bringing increased transparency to criminal justice agencies throughout the state. On Tuesday, April 10, the California Assembly Public Safety Committee passed the Dumanis-sponsored Assembly Bill 2222, authored by Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove). The bill will allow prosecutors to access and release authorized information, under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), from their electronic case management systems.
“Open government is good government,” said Dumanis. “In addition to providing increased government transparency, this bill helps move criminal justice agencies into the 21st century.”
“This bill updates the law to reflect the rapid changes in technology while continuing to provide transparency to government information more efficiently and effectively,” said Block.
Under current law, the District Attorney’s electronic case management system, which contains criminal history information, is included in the definition of “local summary criminal history.” The CPRA requires disclosure of records held in electronic format. However, Penal Code 13302 prohibits releasing this information to the general public.
Since she became District Attorney in 2003, Dumanis has a track record of supporting increased government transparency. AB 2222 reinforces the legislature’s commitment to transparency by allowing prosecutors to effectively use electronic data to respond to public requests for information. The bill updates the law to reflect changes in technology while continuing to provide transparency to government information more efficiently and effectively.
The Assembly Public Safety Committee also passed AB 2221 on Tuesday, another Dumanis-sponsored bill, which further protects victims by referencing Marsy’s Law in conjunction with public records acts requests, and protects the confidential personal information of prosecutors and public defenders. Marsy’s Law, known as the Victims Bill of Rights, was enacted by voters in November 2008.
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Preceding was provided by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis