Califorrnia Public Records
State Level Information
In California, the California Public Records Act was designed to guarantee access to public records within the state. Statutes 6250-6270 define the law. The law was prefaced with the following, "access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state."
Public records are defined in the CPRA 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."
Covered records include all records of included agencies unless a specific exemption has been named by statute. Statute does specifically protect information of a purely personal nature that happens to be in the custody of a government agency and such information does not fall under CPRA jurisdiction. California Department of Industrial Relations
State of California Secretary of State
California Department of Agriculture
State of California Department of Real Estate
California Department of Revenue
California Department of Transportation
California State Veterinary Medical Examining Board
Court Record Resources
An automated system is in place and under the auspices of the California Department of Justice that provides access to criminal history background checks that are required for licensing, certification, foreign adoptions and as a condition of employment and VISA and Immigration clearance.
According to California Penal Code section 11142, a potential employer may not ask an employee for a copy of their criminal record. To do so (or to require proof that a criminal record does or does not exist) is a misdemeanor offense according to the law.
California Judicial Branch
California Criminal Justice Commission
California State Capitol Police
California Department of Corrections
California Office of Administrative Hearings
California Department of Health Services