Fair Administration of Justice Commission Records, 2005-2008

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Summary

Title:
Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice Records
Dates:
2005-2008
Creators:
Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice
Abstract:
The records of the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (CCFAJ) consist of four cubic feet of textual records reflecting the Commission's research and recommendations on the state's administration of criminal justice. The records date from 2005-2008. The records are organized into five record series: Meeting Files, Commission Binders, Reports, Death Penalty Files, and Subject Files.
Extent:
4 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice Records, R398.[series number], [box and folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (CCFAJ) consist of four cubic feet of textual records reflecting the Commission's research and recommendations on the state's administration of criminal justice. The records date from 2005-2008. The records are organized into five record series: Meeting Files, Commission Binders, Reports, Death Penalty Files, and Subject Files.

The Meeting Files document commission meetings as well as hearings held by the Commission to solicit expert and public input. The other record series primarily consist of research materials on eight main themes: eyewitness identification, false confessions, testimony of informants, forensic evidence, defense incompetence, prosecutorial misconduct, wrongful conviction, and the death penalty.

Biographical / historical:

The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (CCFAJ) was established by Senate Resolution 44 (2003-2004, Burton). The duties of the Commission were to "study and review the administration of criminal justice to determine the extent to which that process has resulted in wrongful convictions or executions of innocent persons; to examine ways of providing safeguards and making improvements to the system; and to make recommendations designed to further ensure that the application and administration of criminal justice is just, fair, and accurate."

The Commission was to review existing research, meet regularly, solicit public comments, and hold public hearings. The Commission's recommendations to the Governor were originally mandated to be submitted by December 31, 2007; however, Senate Resolution 10 (2007-2008, Perata) extended the deadline to June 30, 2008. Reports created by the Commission may be found at the California State Library.

The Commission consisted of 25 members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Chair was John K. Van De Kamp, the Vice-Chair was Jon Streeter, and the Executive Director was Gerald (Jerry) F. Uelmen.

Acquisition information:
The State Archives received these records in a series of transfers according to state law.
Accruals:

No further accruals expected

Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Kim Mitchell
Date Prepared:
© 2012
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Cori Schmidtbauer. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: 26 December 2012.

Access and use

Restrictions:

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Terms of access:

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice Records, R398.[series number], [box and folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
Website