March Firearm Tip

In addition to the 2012 Penal Code changes on the Law Enforcement Gun Release Application or “LEGRA”, your legal department and agency head may wish to take this opportunity to revisit  the language relating to possessor/ownership requirements on your Notice of Rights and Receipt as well as your Firearm Policy.

Honing your Notice of Rights and Property Receipt and Firearm Policy will:

• Provide for the update of new penal codes on all documents;
• Define your return policy for the possessor and agency employees;
• Reduce confusion for officers in the field when faced with questions regarding any firearm confiscation;
• Reduce or lessen liability issues for your agency.

Visit the California Attorney General’s website to review the 2012 LEGRA.

Surprising News from the US Supreme Court

“In a rare defeat for law enforcement, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed on Monday to bar police from installing GPS technology to track suspects without first getting a judge's approval.” (Read the complete article from ABC News here.)

For more information on the search warrant process, see http://www.leginfo.ca.gov or California Penal Code Sections 1523-1542.

Momentous Changes for Firearms and Other Deadly Weapons

When we ring in the new year of 2012, we’re also ringing in new provisions of the penal code relating to firearms and other deadly weapons. These “provisions of the Penal Code” are renumbered without substantial change. What does this mean to your department? Before January 1, you’ll need to make a time and money investment in:

• publicizing the changes
• updating your records management software and/or publishing new forms
• providing updates and training for all department members.

A costly change in these tough economic times! For more information, see http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/infobuls/2010-BOF-05.pdf.