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For Immediate Release
October 8, 2025
Contact for Media Inquiries
Christina Villacorte, Communications Manager
COC-PIO@coc.lacounty.gov, (213) 852-2430
LA County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission Hails Historic Passage of AB 847
AB 847 empowers oversight boards or commissions by granting access to confidential information and the ability to conduct closed sessions
The Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission celebrates the historic passage of AB 847, a California State Assembly bill that would amend Penal Code § 832.7 and Government Code § 25303.7
Authored by Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego) and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 6, 2025, AB 847 grants “access to the confidential personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers and records maintained by their employing agencies, as specified, to civilian law enforcement oversight boards or commissions during investigations or related proceedings concerning the conduct of those officers. The bill would require civilian law enforcement oversight boards or commissions to maintain the confidentiality of those records, and would authorize them to conduct closed sessions, as specified, to review confidential records. The bill would additionally authorize a county inspector general to access those personnel records.”
“With AB 847, civilian oversight commissions such as our own will be able to access information that is vital to holding officers accountable for misconduct,” Commission Chair Hans Johnson said. “This legislation represents a significant milestone in advancing civilian oversight of sheriff and police departments in California, reinforcing transparency and accountability while safeguarding confidentiality with respect to law enforcement.”
In April 2025, the Commission voted unanimously in favor of a resolution urging the Los Angeles County Board of the Supervisors to support the passage of AB 847. Two months later, as the bill was making its way through the California State Legislature, the Commission instructed its then-Chair Robert Bonner to express its support of AB 847 in a letter to the California State Senate Public Safety Committee.
The resolution stated, “No civilian oversight commission, including this Commission, can be optimally effective in identifying systemic issues within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and issues adversely impacting the public without being able to access confidential reports of the LASD.”
It added, “The Sheriff and members of the LASD have repeatedly stated that to release records deemed confidential under Penal Code section 832.7(a) to the Commission would expose him and/or LASD personnel to potential criminal penalties for violating Penal Code section 832.7(a). The enactment of AB 847 will eliminate the Sheriff’s concern.”
AB 847 will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
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