A groundbreaking, publicly accessible database detailing police misconduct and use-of-force cases across California is now live, marking a major shift in transparency for one of the nation’s most secretive states when it comes to law enforcement accountability.
A Major Step Toward Police Accountability
Unveiled on August 4, 2025, the searchable, state-funded database includes nearly 12,000 records from over 700 police departments. Created by the California Reporting Project, a collaboration between journalists and data scientists from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, the database is the result of seven years of painstaking work and litigation.
For decades, California shielded law enforcement personnel files from public view. That began to change with the passage of the Right to Know Act in 2018, which made certain records involving police shootings, sexual assault, and acts of dishonesty publicly accessible through records requests. In 2021, the law expanded to include excessive force, unlawful searches, and biased behavior. Still, access to these records has remained inconsistent and difficult, until now.
The team behind the database has filed more than 3,500 public records requests since January 2019. While agencies often responded slowly, sometimes sending only a few documents at a time, reporters and researchers persisted, organizing tens of thousands of files and navigating legal challenges to ensure the records saw the light of day.
What the Database Contains and Who Will Benefit
The result of years of hard work is an unprecedented archive of redacted documents that detail internal investigations, disciplinary actions, and troubling patterns in officer behavior. Though audio and video files are excluded, the textual records provide crucial insight into the operations and oversight (or lack thereof) within California’s law enforcement agencies.
Some revelations from the database are already stirring public concern. The Chronicle uncovered a practice where officers accused of misconduct could sign resignation agreements that scrubbed their records, allowing them to quietly transfer to other departments. KQED sued the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to obtain more records, while other investigations exposed troubling practices such as 73 recorded police dog bites in Richmond, some involving children.
In another push for accountability, a team has sued the San Joaquin County coroner’s office over the cost of accessing death investigation files. They are now advocating for dog bites to be included under California’s legal definition of “great bodily injury.”
Know Your Rights and Seek Accountability
If you or a loved one has been a victim of police misconduct or excessive force, this new database is an important tool, but it’s just the beginning. Accessing these records can empower you to ask hard questions, pursue justice, and protect your rights.
Police Brutality Center is here to help. We connect victims of police violence with experienced civil rights attorneys and offer legal resources and support for navigating these challenging situations. Whether you’re researching an officer’s history, exploring your legal options, or ready to file a claim, our team is here to assist.
Contact Police Brutality Center today for compassionate support and trusted legal guidance in police misconduct cases.