Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15 § 3417

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 3417 - Citizen's Complaints

(a) An allegation by a non-incarcerated person of misconduct by a departmental peace officer as defined in section 3291(b) is a citizen's complaint pursuant to Penal Code section 832.5. Citizen's complaints alleging misconduct of a departmental peace officer shall be filed within twelve months of the alleged misconduct.

(b) Persons other than an incarcerated person, supervised person or staff who allege misconduct of a departmental peace officer shall submit a written complaint to the institution head or parole administrator of the area in which the peace officer is employed.

(c) Citizens filing complaints alleging misconduct by a departmental peace officer are required to read and sign the following statement:

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A POLICE OFFICER [this includes a departmental peace officer] FOR ANY IMPROPER POLICE [or peace] OFFICER CONDUCT. CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES THIS AGENCY TO HAVE A PROCEDURE TO INVESTIGATE CITIZENS' [or incarcerated/supervised person's] COMPLAINTS. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROCEDURE. THIS AGENCY MAY FIND AFTER INVESTIGATION THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO WARRANT ACTION ON YOUR COMPLAINT; EVEN IF THAT IS THE CASE, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE COMPLAINT AND HAVE IT INVESTIGATED IF YOU BELIEVE AN OFFICER BEHAVED IMPROPERLY. CITIZEN [or incarcerated/supervised person] COMPLAINTS AND ANY REPORTS OR FINDINGS RELATING TO COMPLAINTS MUST BE RETAINED BY THIS AGENCY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO MAKE A COMPLAINT THAT YOU KNOW TO BE FALSE. IF YOU MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST AN OFFICER KNOWING THAT IT IS FALSE, YOU CAN BE PROSECUTED ON A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 15, § 3417

Note: Authority cited: Sections 5058 and 5058.3, Penal Code. Reference: Sections 148.6 and 832.5, Penal Code.

1. New section filed 12-28-2021 as an emergency; operative 1/1/2022 (Register 2021, No. 53). Pursuant to Penal Code section 5058.3, a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-9-2022 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New section refiled 6-13-2022 as an emergency; operative 6/13/2022 (Register 2022, No. 24). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 9-12-2022 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
3. Certificate of Compliance as to 6-13-2022 order, including amendment of subsection (c), transmitted to OAL 9-12-2022 and filed 9-29-2022; amendments effective 9-29-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 39).
4. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 7-1-2024 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2024, No. 27).