What Is the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS)?
The California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) is a vital resource for law enforcement agencies throughout California.
This system is crucial for public safety. However, if you have a criminal record, a restraining or protective order, or DMV violations, CLETS helps law enforcement quickly access these records to check for prior offenses.
CLETS is a computer network that provides police departments with access to national databases maintained by the FBI, the California DMV, and other organizations.
The system additionally enables law enforcement agencies to communicate messages with each other. Importantly, access to CLETS information is restricted to authorized law enforcement and criminal justice personnel, emphasizing that this system is intended solely for official use.
Authorities sometimes misuse CLETS for non-official reasons, like personal or friends' details. Such misuse can be investigated by California's Department of Justice and the Attorney General.
If misuse of CLETS is confirmed, the person could be terminated, face criminal charges, and civil liability. California restraining orders, including those for domestic violence, elder abuse, civil harassment, and workplace violence, are entered into CLETS. Let's review below.
Key Takeaways
- CLETS is a statewide computer network that enables local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies to access, exchange, and share essential information about individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
- Managed by the California Department of Justice, CLETS was created to improve law enforcement's ability to protect and serve California's citizens effectively.
- CLETS enables authorized law enforcement officials and criminal justice personnel to access databases maintained by the FBI, DMV records, and certain databases from other states.
- The system holds different kinds of information such as criminal records, driver's license details, vehicle registration data, restraining orders, and reports of missing persons.
- Its main goal is to give law enforcement officers quick access to essential information, helping them make informed decisions during incident responses or investigations. Authorized officers can also use a mobile terminal in their vehicles to access CLETS data in the field.
Which Databases Are Accessible?
Authorized users can access data from various state, FBI, and independent databases through CLETS. This includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:
- Managed by the FBI, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database contains nationwide data on stolen property, missing persons, wanted persons, and protective order records, among other information.
- The International Justice and Public Safety Network (Nlets), formerly called the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, is a non-profit network that enables local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies to share records and data both within the United States and internationally.
- Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) is a nationwide network that contains databases with criminal history records, fingerprints, and biometric information.
- The California DMV offers vehicle registration, driver's license details, and accident reports to authorized CLETS users.
CLETS provides law enforcement with immediate access to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) across California.
This includes nearly all details related to a person in the state's criminal justice system, such as arrest records, criminal charges, pretrial proceedings, sentencing, incarceration, parole and probation data, rehabilitation programs, Social Security details, and date of birth.
Who Is Permitted to Access CLETS?
Access to CLETS is restricted and not open to the public. Only authorized law enforcement personnel, who have completed appropriate training, certification, and background checks, can access it.
This restriction guarantees the security and confidentiality of the sensitive information stored within the system.
Personnel are not authorized to operate CLETS or access the system until they pass a background check and submit their fingerprints. Additionally, anyone accessing CLETS must complete system training within six months of employment.
CLETS Protective Orders
In California, most protective orders are recorded in the CLETS system, referred to as CLETS protective orders. This enables law enforcement officers across California to easily verify if someone has a protective order against them.
For example, if a police officer encounters a situation involving suspected domestic violence or abuse, they can cross-check the involved individuals with the CLETS system.
If a protective order exists, officers will recognize any violations and can arrest the involved individual.
This process allows law enforcement to enforce protective orders immediately, even when the protected person does not have a physical copy of the order.
A restraining order is a court order that stops someone (the restrained person) from harassing, abusing, stalking, or threatening another individual (the protected person).
What Are the Consequences of Misusing CLETS?
Advocacy groups understandably worry about the misuse of CLETS, given the sensitive nature of the information it provides.
CLETS is strictly regulated to ensure its use supports law enforcement goals. Authorized users should access the system only for "official use only"—for legitimate law enforcement or criminal justice purposes.
Users can only access CLETS when they have a right-to-know and need-to-know basis. Any use outside of these guidelines is considered unauthorized. Examples of such unauthorized use include:
- Accessing family and friends' files for personal reasons;
- Sharing data obtained through CLETS with unauthorized individuals;
- Looking up CLETS data on celebrities or other high-profile individuals for entertainment or other purposes.
- Any access to information without a legitimate law enforcement reason.
Why You Need a Defense Lawyer
Using CLETS without authorization can lead to disciplinary actions, legal penalties, and criminal charges, underscoring the importance of accountability for law enforcement and legal professionals.
Like any other investigative tool, the CLETS system must not be used to infringe on an individual's legal rights. Police are permitted to perform searches and arrests only when there is probable cause, including when using CLETS.
Suppose you think your rights as a defendant have been violated due to improper use of the CLETS system. In that case, a qualified criminal defense lawyer can advocate for the suppression of evidence or the dismissal of the case.
Reach out to our California criminal defense attorneys at Cron, Israels & Stark for a case consultation.
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