California · Government Code

GOV §1030: (a) A law enforcement agency shall require a peace officer or a prospective peace officer, as designated under Chapter 4.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Law enforcement agencies must conduct fingerprint-based criminal background checks on peace officers and prospective peace officers through state and national databases.

Read the full statutory text
(a) A law enforcement agency shall require a peace officer or a prospective peace officer, as designated under Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, to undergo a fingerprint-based state and national criminal history background check. (b) A law enforcement agency shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information for an individual specified in subdivision (a) who is subject to a state and national criminal history background check, pursuant to subdivision (u) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- or federal-level response pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code. (c) As used in this section, “law enforcement agency” means a police or sheriff’s department, or any department or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof that employs any peace officer, as designated as designated under Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.