California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Horton, B234590 (Cal. App. 2012):
Peace officer personnel records and records concerning citizen complaints made against peace officers are confidential and are subject to discovery only under limited circumstances. ( 832.7.) A defendant requesting confidential personnel records and complaints must make a good cause showing by affidavit setting forth the materiality of the requested information to the pending litigation. (Evid. Code, 1043, subd. (b)(3).) If a defendant shows good cause, the court must conduct an in camera hearing to determine what information sought, if any, must be disclosed. (People v. Gaines (2009) 46 Cal.4th 172, 179.) A criminal defendant is entitled to discovery of all relevant documents or information in the confidential records of the peace officers accused of misconduct against the defendant, provided it does not concern officer conduct occurring more than five years before the incident, the results of internal police investigations, or facts with no practical benefit to the defense. (Id. at pp. 179, 182; see also Evid. Code, 1045, subd. (b).) This encompasses not only evidence that would be admissible at trial, but also evidence that may lead to admissible evidence or evidence that is pertinent to the defense. (Richardson v.
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