_________________________ 

TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS 

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 

State of California 

ROB BONTA 

Attorney General 

: 

OPINION : No. 21-401 

: 

of : September 8, 2022 

: 

ROB BONTA : 

Attorney General : 

: 

MANUEL M. MEDEIROS : 

Deputy Attorney General : 

THE HONORABLE MICHAEL HESTRIN, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF 

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, has requested an opinion on questions relating to dissemination 

of state summary criminal history information. 

QUESTIONS PRESENTED AND CONCLUSIONS 

1. May a district attorney voluntarily provide to criminal defense counsel, or to a 

self-represented criminal defendant, an unredacted copy of a victim’s or a witness’s RAP 

sheet, with or without a protective order limiting distribution, during the criminal 

discovery process under Penal Code section 11105 as recently amended? 

As a general proposition, a district attorney may provide a copy of an adult 

witness’s or victim’s RAP sheet to defense counsel during the criminal discovery 

process, provided that certain information is redacted. A district attorney may not 

voluntarily provide a copy of a victim’s or witness’s RAP sheet, unredacted or otherwise, 

to a self-represented defendant. 

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2. If redaction is required, what information must be redacted before production? 

Any juvenile court information, and (in the case of a victim) any information that 

may be used to locate or harass the victim or the victim’s family, must be redacted from 

the RAP sheet, unless the district attorney is required to disclose that information under 

Penal Code section 1054.1(a). 

BACKGROUND 

Criminal discovery in California is governed largely by statute.1 Among other 

requirements, a prosecutor is required to produce for defense counsel2 the names and 

addresses of intended prosecution witnesses.3 The prosecution is also required, by both 

statute and the United States Constitution, to provide defense counsel with any 

exculpatory evidence—that is, any evidence tending to negate guilt, reduce punishment, 

or otherwise exculpate the defendant4

—including any evidence tending to impeach the 

credibility of prosecution witnesses.5 By statute in California, a prosecutor is required to 

disclose “the existence of a felony conviction of any material witness whose credibility is 

likely to be critical to the outcome of the trial.”6 California courts have also concluded 

that the prosecution may be required to disclose evidence of misdemeanor convictions 

involving crimes of moral turpitude, as such crimes may bear on the credibility of a 

1 See Pen. Code, pt. 2, tit. 6, ch. 10 (Discovery), § 1054 et seq. Although the statutory 

discovery provisions expressly apply only to criminal proceedings, the juvenile court has 

discretion to apply them in juvenile delinquency cases as well. (J.E. v. Superior Court 

(2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 1329, 1334.) 

2 Hereafter, we will use the term “defense counsel” to refer to both a public defender and 

private defense counsel in a criminal or juvenile delinquency proceeding. 

3 Pen. Code, § 1054.1, subd. (a). 

4 Pen. Code, § 1054.1, subd. (e); Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83 (Brady). 

5 People v. Salazar (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1031, 1048; see In re Pratt (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 

1294, 1312 (duty to disclose evidence favorable to defendant extends to evidence 

reflecting on credibility of witnesses). 

6 Pen. Code, § 1054.1, subd. (d); People v. Little (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 426, 432. 

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witness.7 A witness’s RAP sheet8 may also include exculpatory information in the form 

of arrests and information leading to federal or other-state criminal histories bearing on 

the witness’s credibility.9 No statute specifically requires a prosecutor to turn over a 

witness’s RAP sheet to defense counsel.10 However, a prosecutor is allowed to disclose 

more than is minimally required by the discovery statutes.11 

Most district attorneys in California have easy access to an individual’s RAP sheet 

via a computer query to the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the California Law 

7 People v. Santos (1994) 30 Cal.App.4th 169, 178-179, disapproved on other grounds, 

People v. Dalton (2019) 7 Cal.5th 166; People v. Hayes (1992) 3 Cal.App.4th 1238, 

1243-1245; see United States v. Bagley (1985) 473 U.S. 667, 676; People v. Morrison 

(2004) 34 Cal.4th 698, 714. 

8 The acronym “RAP” commonly stands for “record of arrests and prosecutions.” (See, 

e.g., Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, § 2449.4 [Board of Parole Hearings].) The term is used in 

connection with both state and local summaries (see, e.g., People v. Matthews (1991) 229 

Cal.App.3d 930, 935[local]; 89 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 204, 209 (2006) [local]), however we 

use it here specifically in reference to state summary criminal history information, as 

defined in Penal Code section 11105, subdivision (a)(1)(A): “‘State summary criminal 

history information’ means the master record of information compiled by the Attorney 

General pertaining to the identification and criminal history of a person, such as name, 

date of birth, physical description, fingerprints, photographs, dates of arrests, arresting 

agencies and booking numbers, charges, dispositions, sentencing information, and similar 

data about the person.” 

9 See, e.g., People v. Stacy (No. B132661, Mar. 29, 2002) 2002 WL 475382, 2002 Cal. 

App. Unpub. LEXIS 2453 (prosecution committed Brady violation by failing to disclose 

witness’s FBI RAP sheet, which would have revealed out-of-state exculpatory 

information); Kennedy v. Superior Court (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 359, 379 (“Certainly, 

evidence of charges pending against a prosecution witness at the time of trial is relevant 

for impeachment purposes”). 

10 Pen. Code, § 1054.1; People v. Roberts (1992) 2 Cal.4th 271, 308. 

11 Cf., e.g., Green, Prosecutors’ Professional Independence, 22 Sum.Crim.Just. 4, p. 9 

(Summer, 2007) (questioning whether junior prosecutors, rather than supervisors, should 

have authority to be more generous in discovery than required by disciplinary rules and 

law). State policy prefers informal discovery over an insistence that defense counsel be 

put to the proof of entitlement to the discovery information. (See Pen. Code, § 1054, 

subd. (b) [One of the purposes of the discovery statutes is “[t]o save court time by 

requiring that discovery be conducted informally between the parties”].) 

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Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS).12 Defense counsel, however, do not 

have direct access to CLETS.13 Accordingly, unless the prosecutor voluntarily provides 

defense counsel a copy of the RAP sheet, or is ordered by the court to do so, defense 

counsel’s only avenue for obtaining the information is by applying to DOJ. 

Penal Code section 11105(b)(9) generally requires the Attorney General to furnish 

RAP sheet information to defense counsel upon counsel’s certification that they are 

representing a person “in a criminal case or juvenile delinquency proceeding,” and that 

the information is “needed in the course of their duties” and “requested in the course of 

representation.”14 

Penal Code 11142 prohibits defense counsel (or, indeed, any authorized recipient) 

from providing RAP sheet information to a person not authorized by law to receive it.15 

And the DOJ certification form requires defense counsel to sign the following statement 

under penalty of perjury: 

I also certify and affirm that the information sought is for use only in this 

pending criminal action and for no other purpose. By this Certification, I 

acknowledge that I am authorized to share the information obtained in court 

only if necessary for the defense of my client(s) in the above-referenced 

pending action. I will not disseminate the information to anyone else, 

except those working on behalf of my client(s) and only when it is 

reasonably necessary for the defense of this case. As set forth in this 

Certification, should another person be provided access to the information 

obtained, that person must be provided a copy of the Certification and agree 

to be bound by its terms. The information may be disclosed in court in the 

pending criminal proceeding if necessary for the case. The information 

may not be used for any other proceeding other than the pending criminal 

proceeding underlying this request.16 

12 Gov. Code, §§ 15150-15167; see 105 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. ___, fn. 3 (2022) [20-1001] 

(describing CLETS). 

13 The CLETS is maintained by the DOJ “for the use of law enforcement agencies.” 

(Gov. Code, § 15152.) 

14 Pen. Code, § 11105, subd. (b)(9) (hereafter, “section 11105(b)(9)”). 

15 Pen. Code, § 11142. 

16 See Certification of Attorney of Record, BCIA Form 8700 (Rev. 3/2021), https://tinyurl 

.com/bdwy6wjr (as of Sept. 6, 2022). 

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Upon receipt of a request with proper certification, DOJ will produce for defense 

counsel a copy of an adult witness’s RAP sheet, redacted as necessary.

17 As discussed 

further below, additional restrictions apply to the release of juvenile court information. 

The request asks whether section 11105(b)(9)’s mandate to the Attorney General 

preempts a district attorney from voluntarily providing witness or victim RAP sheets to 

defense counsel. As we will explain, the Attorney General’s authority under section 

11105(b)(9) is no impediment to this voluntary act by a district attorney. However, as we 

will also explain, other statutes may preclude a district attorney from doing so, and it may 

be the case that a district attorney must redact certain information from the RAP sheet 

before it is furnished to defense counsel. 

ANALYSIS 

As we have noted, the question presented to us suggests that, because of “recent 

amendments” to section 11105(b)(9), the Attorney General’s authority to provide a copy 

of witness and victim RAP sheets to defense counsel preempts district attorneys from 

doing so. But some district attorneys suggest that section 11105(b)(9) was never 

intended to include witness or victim RAP sheets at all, that it was intended only for 

defendant’s own RAP sheet. If that position were valid, then our Requestor’s inquiry 

would raise a moot point. Accordingly we address, first, the scope of section 

11105(b)(9), and thereafter, the substance of the inquiry. 

1. Section 11105(b)(9) Encompasses Witness and Victim RAP Sheets, as well as a 

Defendant’s Own RAP Sheet 

Prior to 1975, defense counsel were unable to access RAP sheet information, 

except in limited, post-conviction contexts.18 The same was not true for prosecutors, 

however, to whom the Attorney General was mandated to provide RAP sheet 

information,19 and who had had computerized access to the information via the CLETS 

system since 1965.20 In 1971, the Court of Appeal in Engstrom v. Superior Court, noting 

this disparity in access, ruled that the district attorney, upon request of defense counsel, 

must procure prosecution-witness felony conviction information from the Attorney 

General, and provide it to defense counsel.21 But the Supreme Court later disapproved of 

17 See discussion below concerning redactions. 

18 See Stats. 1967, ch. 1519, § 1, former Pen. Code, § 11105, subd. (b). 

19 Ibid. 

20 See Stats. 1965, ch. 1595, § 1; Gov. Code, §§ 15150-15167. 

21 Engstrom v. Superior Court (1971) 20 Cal.App.3d 240, 244-245 (Engstrom). 

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Engstrom’s sweeping holding in Hill v. Superior Court, ruling instead that a trial court 

had the discretion to require the production of this information upon a sufficient showing 

of good cause.22 In 1975, responding to Engstrom and Hill, the Legislature amended 

section 11105(b) to mandate that the Attorney General provide criminal defense counsel 

with RAP sheet information—if defense counsel is “otherwise authorized access by 

statutory or decisional law.”23 

We may reasonably conclude that this legislative effort was intended to give 

defense counsel access to summary criminal history information about victims of crime. 

Engstrom itself concerned a defense request for criminal history information about a 

victim.24 And the legislative history supporting the amendment expressly cited 

Engstrom.25 

Some four decades later, the Legislature further expanded defense counsel’s 

entitlement, beyond justifiable access to particularized RAP sheet information, to 

encompass the entire RAP sheet. In 2017, criminal defense attorneys approached the 

Legislature, complaining that, notwithstanding judicial recognition of defense entitlement 

to relevant criminal history information, prosecutor compliance was too often not 

sufficiently timely to provide adequate representation of defendants.26 Moreover, they 

argued, the 1975 amendment of section 11105, which had been intended to facilitate 

defense counsel’s direct access to the information, actually impeded that access by 

requiring proof of some separate statutory or decisional authority to justify application to 

the Attorney General. A committee analysis of the Legislature’s curative measure, 

Assembly Bill 2133 (“A.B. 2133”), observed: 

22 Hill v. Superior Court (1974) 10 Cal.3d 812, 818, 820 (Hill). These rulings, of course, 

antedated the 1990 adoption of the Crime Victims Justice Reform Act and its 

incorporated discovery statutes—including section 1054.1(d) and (e), briefly discussed 

above. (Prop. 115, approved by the voters June 5, 1990, § 23, Pen. Code, §§ 1054-

1054.7.) 

23 Stats. 1975, ch. 1222, § 2, former Pen. Code, § 11105, subd. (b)(8). 

24 See Engstrom, supra, 20 Cal.App.3d at p. 243; Hill, supra, 10 Cal.3d at p. 823 

(discussion of Engstrom). 

25 Assem. Com. on Crim. Just., analysis of Assem. Bill No. 1674 (1975-1976 Reg. Sess.) 

as introduced, p. 2. 

26 See Assem. Com. on Pub. Safety, Analysis of Assem. Bill No. 2133 (2018-2019 Reg. 

Sess.) as introduced Feb. 12, 2018, p. 4 (hearing date March 20, 2018). 

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[A]s currently drafted, [section 11105(b)(9)] actually states that these 

attorneys have access only if there is another statute. So the law that 

authorizes everyone else, specifically states that criminal defense attorneys 

need another law to gain access. . . . This bill would clarify that Penal Code 

Section 11105, subdivision (b)(9), on its own, provides public defenders 

and criminal defense attorneys with the right to receive information from 

the DOJ database.27 

Another analysis observed: 

In most criminal cases, there is good reason for public defenders and 

criminal defense attorneys to be provided with information contained in the 

DOJ database. For example, evidence that a testifying witness has been 

convicted of a felony is generally admissible to attack the credibility of that 

witness [Citation], and misconduct bearing on a witness’s propensity for 

honesty or veracity are likewise admissible, even where it falls short of 

felony conduct. [Citations.] Furthermore, the United States Supreme Court 

has made it clear that criminal defense attorneys are entitled to information 

that may cast doubt on the credibility of a prosecution witness. [Citation.]28 

Effective 2018, then, A.B. 2133 deleted from subdivision (b)(9) the requirement of 

a separate statutory or decisional authorization for RAP sheet information.29 Based on 

the current language of subdivision (b)(9), and in response to a proper application, the 

27 Ibid., italics added. The bill analysis also reported this concern of defense counsel: 

It is important to note that many prosecutors who believe they are not 

permitted to share the ‘rap sheets’ of witnesses, will instead provide an 

internally produced memo summarizing only portions of the report. 

However, too often this memo is delayed or provided right before trial with 

no opportunity for the defense attorney to conduct thorough investigation. 

Therefore, AB 2133 will also accelerate the timeliness of obtaining this 

information. 

(Id. at p. 5.) 

28 Sen. Rules Com., Off. of Sen. Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Assem. Bill No. 

2133 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) as amended March 22, 2018, pp. 5-6. 

29 A.B. 2133 also extended mandatory dissemination to defense counsel in juvenile 

delinquency proceedings. 

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Department of Justice will now provide defense counsel with a copy of a victim’s or 

witness’s RAP sheet (redacted as described below). 

2. Section 11105(b)(9) Does Not Preempt a District Attorney from Disseminating 

Witness or Victim RAP Sheets to Defense Counsel 

The opinion request appears to assume that section 11105(b)(9), as amended by 

A.B. 2133, impliedly makes the Attorney General the exclusive source of RAP sheet 

information for defense counsel outside the formal discovery process. However, we have 

addressed, and rejected, this proposed construction in the companion opinion issued this 

date, concerning voluntary dissemination of defendant’s own RAP sheet by a district 

attorney to defense counsel in the course of discovery.30 We need not repeat our analysis 

here, but will instead refer the reader to that opinion. Suffice it to say, we concluded 

there that, while a district attorney is not required to furnish defense counsel with a copy 

of defendant’s RAP sheet, section 11105 has no bearing on the decision to do so 

voluntarily. 

3. A District Attorney May Not Voluntarily Provide a Witness or Victim’s RAP 

Sheet to a Self-Represented Defendant 

Although the Legislature has mandated that the Attorney General furnish RAP 

sheet information to defense counsel, there is no similar mandate for the Attorney 

General to do so for a self-represented defendant.31 Nor, indeed, has the Legislature even 

vested the Attorney General with discretion to do so.32 

A self-represented defendant, like defense counsel, is entitled to felony conviction 

information about any material witness whose credibility is likely to be critical to the 

outcome of the trial.33 And, to the extent dictated by constitutional considerations, a selfrepresented defendant is entitled to receive information about a witness’s misdemeanor 

convictions.34 But these are mandated disclosures by the prosecutor in criminal cases.35 

30 105 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. ____ (2022) [20-1001]. 

31 Cf. Pen. Code, § 11105, subd. (b)(9). 

32 Cf., Pen. Code, § 11105, subd. (c); see also Loder v. Municipal Court (1976) 17 Cal.3d 

859, 873 (under subdivision (c), Attorney General has discretion to furnish information, 

but is permitted to do so only upon a showing of compelling need). 

33 Pen. Code, § 1054.1, subd. (d). 

34 See 20A Cal.Jur.3d (Feb. 2022 update) Criminal Law: Pretrial Proceedings § 976. 

35 Pen. Code, § 1054.1. 

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And the Legislature has gone to great pains to ensure that a self-represented defendant is 

not informed of any personal identifying information about the witness, requiring that 

any contact with the witness be either conducted by a licensed investigator or otherwise 

under the supervision of the court.36 

We are aware of no statutory or case law authorizing a self-represented defendant 

to receive state summary criminal history information except as mandated by the 

Constitution or the discovery statutes. Accordingly, with those limited exceptions, a selfrepresented defendant is not a “person authorized by law to receive a record” within the 

meaning of Penal Code section 11140.37 It would be unlawful, therefore, for a district 

attorney to voluntarily furnish a witness’s or victim’s criminal history information to a 

self-represented defendant, except such information as must be disclosed by statute or the 

federal Constitution.38 A self-represented defendant must seek discovery of nonmandated witness or victim RAP sheet information through court order. 

4. A District Attorney May Not Voluntarily Furnish Defense Counsel with a Copy 

of a Juvenile Witness or Victim’s RAP Sheet, and Must Redact any Juvenile 

Court Information from an Adult Witness’s RAP sheet 

California has a strong policy favoring confidentiality of juvenile records. That 

policy helps to protect the interests of the child by assuring fairness, avoiding the stigma 

of criminality, and assisting in rehabilitation.39 Welfare and Institutions Code section 

827 “sets the current parameters of this state’s policy with respect to the confidentiality of 

juvenile records, and governs release of such records.”40 Generally, matters in a juvenile 

court file are confidential and may be inspected only by statutorily identified persons or 

by other persons having the court’s permission.41 

36 See Pen. Code, § 1054.2, subd. (b). 

37 Pen. Code, § 11140, subd. (b). A self-represented defendant may receive a copy of his 

or her own RAP sheet. (Pen. Code, §§ 11120-11124.) 

38 Pen. Code, § 11142. DOJ is likewise prohibited from voluntarily providing a selfrepresented defendant with a victim’s or witness’s RAP sheet. (Pen. Code, § 11141.) 

39 T.N.G. v. Superior Court (1971) 4 Cal.3d 767, 776-777; In re R.G. (2000) 

79 Cal.App.4th 1408, 1410-1411. 

40 Pack v. Kings County Human Services Agency (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 821, 827. 

41 65 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 503, 503 (1982); In re Elijah S. (2005) 125 Cal.App.4th 1532, 

1541 (“Generally, a juvenile court has broad and exclusive authority to determine 

whether and to what extent to grant access to confidential juvenile records”), citing 

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Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 forbids disclosure of information from 

juvenile court records to any person who is not listed in that statute or otherwise 

authorized by juvenile court order to receive the information.42 Section 827 provides: 

A juvenile case file, any portion thereof, and information relating to the 

content of the juvenile case file, may not be disseminated by the receiving 

agencies to a person or agency, other than a person or agency authorized to 

receive documents pursuant to this section. . . .43 

A district attorney is an authorized recipient of a witness’s juvenile court record 

information.44 But defense counsel is not.45 Section 827 only authorizes defense counsel 

for a minor defendant in a criminal or delinquency proceeding to have access to the 

juvenile court record information, and then, only the records of their own client.

46 In the 

absence of court order, then, defense counsel may not have access to the juvenile court 

information about a juvenile victim or witness; nor may defense counsel have access to 

the juvenile court information about an adult witness. 

Accordingly, a district attorney may not voluntarily provide a copy of a minor 

victim or witness’s RAP sheet to defense counsel in either a criminal or a juvenile 

delinquency proceeding.

47 It follows that any juvenile court information that is included 

in an adult witness’s RAP sheet must be redacted before delivery to defense counsel. 

T.N.G. v. Superior Court, supra, 4 Cal.3d at p. 778 (juvenile court with exclusive 

authority to determine the extent to which records may be released to third parties). 

42 Welf. & Inst. Code, § 827, subd. (a)(4); see also id. at subd. (a)(1)(Q) (petition to 

juvenile court). 

43 Welf. & Inst. Code, § 827, subd. (a)(4), emphasis added. 

44 Welf. & Inst. Code, § 827, subd. (a)(1)(B). 

45 See People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal.4th 491, 606-607. 

46 Welf. & Inst. Code, § 827, subd. (a)(1)(E). 

47 Pen. Code, § 11142 (forbidding disclosure of criminal history information to 

unauthorized persons). For these same reasons, DOJ will decline a defense counsel 

request for a minor witness’s RAP sheet under Penal Code section 11105(b)(9). 

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5. Marsy’s Law Requires a District Attorney to Redact Certain Information from a 

Victim’s RAP Sheet before Voluntarily Providing It to Defense Counsel 

The voters enacted Marsy’s Law in 2008.48 The measure amended the California 

Constitution and added several statutes addressing a number of criminal-procedure issues 

that affect victims of crime. Most importantly for our analysis here, Marsy’s Law added 

sections 28(b)(1) and (b)(4) to article I of the California Constitution. Subdivision (b)(1) 

declares that a victim has the right to be “treated with fairness and respect for his or her 

privacy and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse throughout 

the criminal or juvenile justice process.”49 Subdivision (b)(4) guarantees that a victim 

has the right “to prevent the disclosure of confidential information or records to the 

defendant, the defendant’s attorney, or any other person acting on behalf of the 

defendant, which could be used to locate or harass the victim or the victim’s family or 

which disclose confidential communications made in the course of medical or counseling 

treatment, or which are otherwise privileged or confidential by law.” 50 For purposes of 

Marsy’s Law, a victim is “a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, 

psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission 

of a crime or delinquent act. . . . [and includes] the person’s spouse, parents, children, 

siblings, or guardian, and . . . a lawful representative of a crime victim who is deceased, a 

minor, or physically or psychologically incapacitated.”51 

A victim’s constitutional right of privacy under Marsy’s Law is enforceable in the 

trial court by either the victim, the victim’s lawful representative, or the prosecuting 

attorney “upon request of the victim.”52 And Marsy’s Law would seem to contemplate 

that the victim has notice of the potential disclosure.53 Accordingly, if a district attorney 

elects to furnish defense counsel with a copy of a victim’s RAP sheet without a discovery 

48 “Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy’s Law,” adopted by initiative measure 

(Prop. 9, §§ 1, 4.1, approved by the voters, Nov. 4, 2008); Cal. Const., art. I, § 28(b)(4). 

49 Cal. Const., art. 1, § 28(b)(1). 

50 Cal. Const., art. I, § 28(b)(4). Although Proposition 9 made numerous other changes to 

the California Constitution, our use of the term “Marsy’s Law” in this opinion refers 

specifically to the rights guaranteed in article I, sections 28(b)(1) and 28(b)(4) of the 

Constitution. 

51 Cal. Const., art. I, § 28(e). 

52 Cal. Const., art. I, § 28(c)(1) 

53 See Kling v. Superior Court (2010) 50 Cal.4th 1068, 1080 (observing that Marsy’s Law 

contemplates that the victim and prosecuting attorney would be aware that the defense 

had subpoenaed confidential records regarding the victim from third parties). 

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order to do so, then the district attorney should either redact any information covered by 

Marsy’s Law before providing the RAP sheet to defense counsel,54 or afford the victim 

an opportunity to object to disclosure of the information.55 

6. We Are Aware of No Law Requiring a District Attorney to Redact Information 

from the RAP Sheet of an Adult Witness Who is not the Victim 

Marsy’s Law focuses on the privacy interest of victims, in the context of criminal 

proceedings; it does not expressly speak to the rights of witnesses who are not victims. 

The state Constitution does guarantee everyone a right to privacy, which extends to 

protect individuals from unjustified intrusion into their criminal history.56 Governmental 

custodians of records have a duty to “resist attempts at unauthorized disclosure and the 

person who is the subject of the record is entitled to expect that his right will be thus 

asserted.”57 

The right of privacy is not absolute, however, and the Legislature or the courts 

may balance an individual’s interest in preventing disclosure of his or her criminal 

history information against other compelling interests favoring disclosure, such as those 

of a defendant in a criminal proceeding.58 The Legislature has thus determined that the 

Attorney General must disclose RAP sheet information to defense counsel for purposes 

54 As a matter of practice, the DOJ redacts a victim’s address if it appears on a RAP sheet 

that is requested under section 11105(b)(9). 

55 Nothing precludes a district attorney from advising defense counsel of the existence of 

the confidential information on the RAP sheet, so that defense counsel might seek an 

order requiring disclosure. (And see Pen. Code, § 1054.7 [affording an opportunity for 

court hearing if disclosure of confidential information might endanger victim].) We note 

again that disclosure of RAP sheets is not required as part of discovery. (People v. 

Roberts, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 308; People v. Santos, supra, 30 Cal.App. 4th at p. 175.) 

As some have observed, however, “much, if not all, of the information contained in the 

rap sheets is discoverable. [Citations.].” (See People v. Coleman, 2016 WL 902638, p. 

*8, quoting Cal. Crim. Law: Procedure & Practice (Cont. Ed. Bar 2014) § 11.8, p. 250.) 

56 Cal. Const., art. I, § 1; International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, 

Etc.v. Superior Court (2007) 42 Cal.4th 319, 340; Westbrook v. County of Los Angeles 

(1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 157, 165-166; Central Valley Ch. 7th Step Foundation, Inc. v. 

Younger (1989) 214 Cal.App.3d 145. 

57 Westbrook v. County of Los Angeles, supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at pp. 165-166. 

58 See Loder v. Municipal Court, supra, 17 Cal.3d at p. 864. 

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of a defendant’s representation.59 In this context, then, defense counsel is an “authorized 

recipient” of state summary criminal history information.60 

It has been suggested that the Information Practices Act of 1977 (IPA)61 may 

require a district attorney to redact personal information from a witness’s RAP sheet, but 

we cannot agree. Although the IPA strictly limits disclosure of personal information by 

state agencies,62 disclosures by local governmental agencies, such as the district attorney, 

are not covered by the act.63 

Thus, as discussed above, we conclude that any juvenile court information, and (in 

the case of a victim) any information that may be used to locate or harass the victim or 

the victim’s family, must be redacted from a RAP sheet prior to disclosure to defense 

counsel, unless the district attorney is required to disclose that information under Penal 

Code section 1054.1(a). Aside from this, however, we are not aware of any statute or 

judicial decision compelling redaction of information that might appear on the RAP sheet 

of an adult non-victim witness. 

59 Gov. Code, § 11105, subd. (b)(9). 

60 Pen. Code, § 11140, subd. (b). In this opinion, we address only a district attorney’s 

voluntary disclosure of RAP sheet information to defense counsel in the course of 

discovery during a criminal or juvenile delinquency proceeding in which the district 

attorney is the prosecutor. We do not address a district attorney’s disclosure of such 

information to a defense attorney in any other context. 

61 Civ. Code, §§ 1798-1798.78. 

62 See Civ. Code, § 1798.24. 

63 Civ. Code, § 1798.3, subd. (b)(4) (excluding local agencies); see All Angels 

Preschool/Daycare v. County of Merced (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 394, 400, fn. 5 (noting 

exclusion of counties); Gilbert v. City of San Jose (2003) 114 Cal.App.4th 606, 610, fn. 4 

(noting exclusion of local agencies); 64 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 756, 758 (1981) (noting 

exclusion of police departments). 

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