Public Records Requests

Records maintained by the Victim Compensation Board, except those exempt from disclosure by express provisions of law, are available for public inspection according to the following procedures:

Public Records Requests (PDF version)

1. Requests for inspection or copying of public records:
   1. Should be directed to:
      Public Records Request
      Victim Compensation Board
      P.O. Box 350
      Sacramento, CA 95812
      (916) 491-3605
      CustodianOfRecords@VICTIMS.CA.GOV
   2. Should be specific, focused and not interfere with the ordinary business operations of the Board. Where a request is not specific and focused, Board staff will assist the requester to identify the requested information, describe the technology or physical location of the record, and provide suggestions on how to overcome practical barriers to disclosure. The operational function of the Board will not be suspended to permit inspection of records during periods in which such records are reasonably required by Board personnel in the performance of their duties. If the request requires review of numerous records, a mutually agreeable time should be established for the inspection of the records.
   3. Should sufficiently describe the records so that they can be identified, located and retrieved by Board personnel.
   4. Can be made orally or in writing, but the Board encourages written requests.
2. The Board may refuse to disclose any records which are exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act. (See, e.g., Gov. Code § 6254, et seq.)
3. Records are available for inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Inspection of records will be allowed upon conditions determines by the Board. Upon either the completion of the inspection or the oral request of Board personnel, the person conducting the inspection shall relinquish physical possession of the records. Persons inspecting Board records shall not destroy, mutilate, deface, alter, or remove any such records from the Board’s office. The Board reserves the right to have Board personnel present during the inspection of records in order to prevent the loss or destruction of records.
5. Copies of records that are not exempt from disclosure are available upon pre-payment of the copying costs (10 cents per page.)
6. These guidelines shall be posted in a conspicuous public place at the Board, and a free copy shall be provided upon request.

Laws

The following laws guide the maintenance and disclosure of records:

• California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 and following)
  The California Public Records Act declares that access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.
• California Information Practices Act (Civil Code section 1798 and following)
  The Information Practices Act declares that the right to privacy is a personal and fundamental right protected by Section 1 of Article I of the Constitution of California and by the United States Constitution and that all individuals have a right of privacy in information pertaining to them. It further states that in order to protect the privacy of individuals, it is necessary that the maintenance and dissemination of personal information be subject to strict limits.
• Confidentiality of Victim Compensation Board Claim Records
  All claims filed with the Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) are confidential. Except as required by law, the CalVCB only discloses a victim or applicant's information if we have their written permission. If the applicant or victim is a child or incapacitated adult, the written permission must be provided by a parent, guardian or other person legally authorized to represent the applicant or victim.