California Public Records Act FAQs

1. What is the California Public Records Act (CPRA)?

   The California Public Records Act (CPRA) was passed by the California Legislature in 1968 for government agencies and requires that government records be disclosed to the public, upon request, unless there are privacy and/or public safety exemptions which would prevent doing so. Please see the California Attorney General’s Office Summary of the California Public Records Act (pdf) for additional information.

2. What is a Public Record?

   Government Code §7920.530 defines a public record as “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics." The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) respects the public’s right to access records created and maintained by POST in the course of normal business.
   
   Please ensure that you narrow your request to that which reasonably identifies the desired records that POST may have in its possession in order for staff to more efficiently search for and promptly provide responsive documents. Additionally, please ensure the records you are requesting are under POST's purview and what POST oversees as a state agency. For example, POST has no records related to 911 transcripts, accident/incident reports, warrants, county arrest records, and the like, unless they might be included in an officer's serious misconduct investigation.
   
   The CPRA does not require creation/preparation of a record or document that does not exist at the time of the request. Additionally, certain categories of personal information and records are exempt from disclosure under the CPRA. Other laws also protect individual privacy interests and other propriety information from disclosure.

3. Information to include with your request

   Pursuant to Government Code §7922.600, in order to make a focused and effective request for POST records, please include the following applicable information to ensure the scope of the request is narrow and clear enough for personnel to determine if POST has the records you are requesting:
    
   • The subject of the record
   • A clear, concise, and specific description of the record(s) being requested
   • The date(s) of the record(s), or a time period for your request (e.g.: calendar year 2020)
   • Full names for the individuals and/or agencies included in your request, including proper spelling
   • POST ID(s) for the individual(s) included in your request if applicable, and/or current/former agency
   • Any additional information that helps staff identify the record(s) being requested
   • Your contact information for response to your request, preferably an email address
   
   Please make every effort to research the POST records you are requesting, prior to submitting your request. A vast amount of information, resources, and records are already available on the POST Website, by utilizing the search tool, or browsing the topics related to your request. Common questions for information might be found using the following resources:
    
   • SB978 and Presenter Course Content
   • SB978 Multimedia Products and Training Videos
   • Certificates
   • Basic Course Training Specifications (by Learning Domain)
   • Basic Course Student Workbooks (by Learning Domain)
   • POST Learning Portal questions
   • POST Commission Regulations, Procedures, and Authority
   • Investigation Records Pertaining to Officer Misconduct/Decertification (Government Code section 7923.601)
   • POST Participating Agencies
        
4. How to make a Public Records Act Request
   
   Submit Your Own Online Request for POST Records
   (select "Submit Records Request")
   
   Mail:
   Attention: California Public Records Act Request
   California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
   860 Stillwater Road, Suite 100
   West Sacramento, CA 95605-1630
   
   For questions, email: CPRA@post.ca.gov
   
   Please note: The 10-day period mentioned in the Government Code §7922.535 is not a deadline for producing records. Should the request be voluminous, or require research, or computer programming, POST may need a reasonable amount of time to research, review, and inspect records prior to release; therefore, it may take longer before the records can be made available. Upon receipt of your request, POST will make every effort to keep you apprised of response timeframes.