California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System

The Santa Clara Police Department is authorized by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to access the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS). CLETS is a computer network that provides criminal justice agencies with access to a variety of databases. These databases contain information about a person's driving record, criminal record and criminal history.

Criminal justice agencies and law enforcement access CLETS using an interoperable police radio system. 

Radio communications for every law enforcement and fire agency in Santa Clara County are maintained by Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA).

The purpose of SVRIA is to enhance and improve communications, data sharing and other technology systems for the protection of the public, to enhance public safety and to facilitate local and regional cooperative efforts. As a duly formed JPA under the California Government Code and an independent governmental agency, SVRIA is bound by the rules and mandates of the State of California as well as its own JPA. It is the policy of SVRIA to comply with all federal, and state legal rules, regulations, and mandates.

The Silicon Valley Regional Communications System (SVRCS), managed by SVRIA, was designed and built with encryption capabilities. When the system was designed over a decade ago it was expected that encryption would be used to protect the privacy of citizens and the safety of law enforcement officials. The SVRCS was designed and constructed based upon the approval of elected officials from member agencies and staff who sit on the Board of Directors and Working Committee.

SVRIA manages over 13,000 radios and more than 50 physical sites. For perspective, in December 2020, SVRIA handled 1.87 million radio transactions.

California Justice Information Services Division Bulletin No. 20-09-CIJS

On October 12, 2020, the DOJ issued Information Bulletin #20-09-CJIS, which sets forth legal mandates and guidelines regarding the confidentiality of information from CLETS.

The new DOJ guidelines require law enforcement agencies to protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Criminal Justice Information (CJI). PII is unique identifiers that can distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as name, date of birth, driver’s license, social security and/or military identification numbers. CJI is information such as wants/warrants, restraining orders and/or details related to an individual’s probation or parole status.

The state order allows law enforcement agencies to meet the requirement in one of two ways:

• establish policies that restrict the dissemination of personally identifiable while still transmitting other information through an open frequency, or
• encrypt all its communications

Previously, the Santa Clara Police Department's primary radio channel was not encrypted and anyone with a commercial scanner or a smartphone scanning app can listen to radio traffic, take down pertinent details or arrive on the scene and cause disruptions during an active incident. 

Transition to Encryption

The Santa Clara Police Department transitioned to encrypted radio channels on April 26, 2021to be in compliance with the DOJ mandate.

The only law enforcement agency operating in Santa Clara County that decided to establish a policy to restrict personally identifiable information is the California Highway Patrol; this decision was based on the cost to encrypt channels throughout the state.

Access to Information: