Reflecting on Sunshine Week: Citizen's Guide to Information

Sunshine Week, when media organizations, libraries, nonprofits and schools highlight the importance of government transparency and the value of open records, ended Sunday. It was started by journalists, but Sunshine Week is about the public's right to know what its government is doing.

One of Sunshine Week's goals is to empower members of the public to play an active role in their government and give them access to information to improve their personal lives and their communities. With that in mind, Patch presents this Citizen’s Guide to Information.

Patch has compiled a list of agencies that you can contact for information and questions on topics including court documents and restaurant inspection grades.

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COURTS

Superior Courts 

What: Each of the 58 counties in California has a Superior Court that hears civil and criminal cases.

Where: Each courthouse has a clerk’s office in which members of the public may request to view court documents. 

What to bring: Court case number.

Cost: Free to view. A small per page fee is charged for copies.

Where to go: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/find.htm

California Courts of Appeal

What: There are six California Courts of Appeal spread throughout the state that hear criminal and civil appeals of judgments from the Superior Courts. 

Where: Each courthouse has a clerk’s office in which members of the public may request to view court documents. Opinions are also published online within hours of a finding.

What to bring: Court case number.

Cost: Free to view. A small per page fee is charged for copies.

Where to go: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/find.htm,http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/courtsofappeal/

California Supreme Court

What: The highest state court in California with headquarters in San Francisco and regular sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Where: The high court headquarters is at 350 McAllister St. in San Francisco. A court calendar of scheduled arguments is available online and opinions are normally filed Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and posted online.

What to bring: Court case number.

Cost: Free to view. A small per page fee is charged for copies.

Where to go: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/find.htm,http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/


RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

What: Name and address of the restaurant, current health inspection grade, past grades and types of violations.

Where: Online. http://www.rivcoeh.org/opencms/rivcoeh/ProgServices/Food_Program/Restaurant_Grading.html

Cost: Free.

RESTAURANT DOWNGRADES

What: Name, address, date of closure and reason for closure.

Where: Online. http://www.rivcoeh.org/opencms/rivcoeh/ProgServices/Food_Program/Downgrades.html

Cost: Free.

COMMISSIONS

California Fair Political Practices Commission 
Provides information on state regulations regarding government’s fair and efficient use of public resources. How to file a complaint.

Anonymous Complaints: Toll Free tip line 800-561-1861 

VITAL RECORDS

Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates

Who can get it: 

• The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant
• A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code
• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business
• A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the registrant                                                                                                                
• An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant’s estate.

Where to get it: Apply in person at the County Clerk’s office in Temecula at 41002 County Center Dr. #230. Phone: 951-486-7000 or 800-696-9144 if dialed within Riverside County. For all Riverside County locations, click here.

If you apply in person, you will need a valid photo ID. Same-day service is available. These records are available only if the person was born, died or married in Riverside County.

What it costs*: Birth certificate-$19, Death certificate-$12, Marriage certificate-$14 *The fee for searching a record is not refundable if the record is not found.

Apply by mail by downloading the form here, enclosing a check or money order, then mailing to:

Riverside County Clerk-Recorder, P.O. Box 751, Riverside, CA 92502-0751, Attn: Copy Section

Allow 10 to 15 working days, after receipt, to process your request.

Apply online* by visiting:  http://riverside.asrclkrec.com/acr/OS.asp

*There is a $5 fee to order copies or searches online.

SCHOOLS

School performance data

What: Fiscal, demographic, and performance data of California's K-12 schools.

Where: http://ed-data.k12.ca.us/welcome.asp?

What to bring: Name, district, or county of school or group you want to find out about.

Cost: Free

API scores

What: API (Academic Performance Indicator) scores for any public school in California.

Where: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/apireports.asp

What to bring: The name of the school you want to find out about. 

Cost: Free

BUSINESS LICENSE RECORDS

State License Verification

What’s in it: The name and location of a license, accusations filed and disciplinary decisions effective on or after January of the previous year.

Who can get it: General public.

Where to get it: The state Department of Consumer Affairs’ website.

What you need: Know which license type you’re searching for. You may search by business name, city or county.

Contact number: 800-952-5210

County License Verification

What’s in it: A list of businesses with active licenses in Riverside County, and what type of business they are licensed for.

Who can get it: General public

Where to get it: The county website, by clicking here.

Who to contact with questions: 951-955-1400 or buslic@rctlma.org.

Tell us if there are other agencies or organizations we should add to this list. Email Murrieta Patch editor Maggie Avants (maggie.avants@patch.com).