California bill looks to close data gaps in the criminal justice system

The California state legislature has passed AB 1331, a criminal justice data bill that aims to improve the quality of criminal justice records and creates a pathway for courts to share data with researchers. The bill is awaiting a signature of approval by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Authored by Assemblyperson Robert Bonta, the bill seeks to address the data gaps in criminal history records that "undermine their accuracy and reliability," according to an AB 1331 fact sheet.