Report 2019-118 Recommendation 53 Responses

Report 2019-118: Automated License Plate Readers: To Better Protect Individuals' Privacy, Law Enforcement Must Increase Its Safeguards for the Data It Collects (Release Date: February 2020)

Recommendation #53 To: Sacramento County Sheriff's Department

To enable auditing of user access to and user queries of ALPR images, Sacramento should ensure that its ALPR policy makes clear how frequently Sacramento will audit its ALPR system, who will perform that audit, who will review and approve the audit results, and how long Sacramento will retain the audit documents. Sacramento should have in place by February 2021 an audit plan that describes its audit methodology, including, but not limited to, risk areas that will be audited, sampling, documentation, and resolution of findings.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office updated General Order 10/12 (Automated License Plate Reader Program) to reflect the policy that ALPR system audits shall be minimally conducted annually, and the audit documents will be saved for two years. Furthermore, the policy mandates that the Field Support Division Security Operations Group conduct the audits, and the Field Support Division Commander is responsible for reviewing and approving the audits. The Security Operations Group created a desk procedure document describing the audit methodology for conducting an annual ALPR audit to ensure compliance with department policy.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented


1-Year Agency Response

As of April 20, 2021, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department had not provided a response on the recommendations in this audit.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending


6-Month Agency Response

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department did not provide a six-month response to this recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending


60-Day Agency Response

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department did not provide a 60-day response.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending


All Recommendations in 2019-118

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.