Transparency Regarding Police Shootings

Sacramento, CA – California’s Attorney General wants information after a police-involved shooting to reach the public faster and supports a new bill to do that.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris is backing AB 2524, which would require law enforcement agencies to file all their reports to the state Department of Justice electronically.  Harris notes that the legislation will bring criminal justice data reporting into the 21st century.  Currently 60 percent are on paper and requires staff to type the information into computers, which slows the process of getting the information onto the attorney general’s Open Justice website for public viewing.

A law that requires agencies to file more detailed reports on shootings by police, including the injured person’s age, race and gender was passed last year by the Legislature.

This latest bill would also mandate law enforcement to file crime statistics on murders, rapes, robberies and property theft electronically.