On Jan. 1, SB 1421 was enacted by the California legislature. It required the release of reports involving all deputy involved shootings, use of force situations causing great bodily injury, and sustained complaints of dishonesty and sexual assault.
When enacted, the law was not clear as to whether those complaints were to be disclosed beginning Jan. 1, or whether the law was intended to be retroactive for all retained records.
On Friday March 29, the 1st District Court of Appeals ruled that the release of such records applied retroactively, clarifying the law. With this clarification, Sheriff Mark Essick will be releasing the records which fall under the purview of SB 1421, as they become available.
The Sheriff’s Office has 12 cases that will be releasable under this law. These cases require time consuming redactions as permitted by the law. The first three applicable cases will be released within a week.
Essick said he is committed to transparency and following the law under SB 1421. He has staff continuing to read and redact the material preparing it for release.
As soon as each case is complete it will be released according to the law.
