Relating to the confidentiality of information filed with the court to secure an arrest warrant

This bill relates to the confidentiality of information filed with the court used to secure an arrest warrant. Current law specifies that information filed with the court used to secure an arrest warrant shall be confidential until a peace officer has made the arrest and has made the officer’s return on the warrant, or the defendant has made an initial appearance in court, unless otherwise ordered by the court. During the period of confidentiality, the information in the record may be disseminated, without court order, to certain listed persons during the course of their official duties. The bill provides that, during the confidentiality period, access to such information can be expressly restricted by court order. The bill includes an attorney appointed by the court to represent the defendant in a specific case where an arrest warrant has been issued but not served, if the defendant is in custody and subject to a hold for that arrest warrant, in the list of persons to whom information filed with the court for the purpose of securing a warrant for an arrest may be disseminated during the confidentiality period.