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Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business.
If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at EERROffice@doj.ca.gov
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I need to contact a state agency. Is there a directory
available?Please visit the State of California website, https://www.ca.gov/agenciesall. You may also contact State
Directory Services by telephone at 1-(800)-807-6755 or via e-mail at stateinfo@state.ca.gov
For questions regarding the Department of Justice contact
Public Inquiry Unit
Voice: (916) 210-6276 or
(Toll-free in California)
(800) 952-5225
Fax: (916) 323-5341
I need to file a complaint against a state agency. Who
can help me?The Attorney General's Office is unable to assist you,
because we are required by law to provide legal representation to state agencies in
disputes rising out of their actions. This duty precludes the Attorney General from
representing individual citizens in their disagreements with state agencies or
providing advice to any individual regarding the disputed activity. While the Attorney General represents state departments in
legal matters, he does not seek to impose his own policy judgments or control the
administration of the business of his client agencies. For assistance in resolving a problem with a state agency, we
suggest that you contact the director of the agency, your representatives in the Legislature,
the Governor's Office,
and a private attorney.If you wish to report alleged improper governmental activity
by a state employee or agency, please contact the Bureau of State Audits. This
agency may be contacted as follows:
If you wish to file a claim for monetary damages you believe
were caused by a state agency, please contact the Government Claims Program. This
Program may be contacted as follows:
I think a law should be enacted, amended, or revoked.
Who should I contact?The Attorney General's role in legislative matters is
limited to making recommendations to the California Legislature regarding needed
changes in law and to enforcing the laws the Legislature enacts. You may wish to share your concerns with your
representatives in the California Legislature. You may contact them as
follows:
If you are interested in researching or tracking legislative
proposals, we suggest that you contact your representatives in the Legislature
and/or visit the Legislative Counsel's website at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html
I need to file a complaint against a federal government
agency. Who can help me?Our office does not handle constituent complaints against
federal government agencies. We suggest that you send a written request for
assistance to your representatives in the U.S. Senate. Your request for assistance
should include the following information:
Name
Mailing address and phone number
Federal agency involved
Specific request for assistance
Signature of person in need of assistance (required by Federal law under the
Privacy Act)
I need to file a complaint against a local government
agency. Who can help me?It is our general policy that local governments will be
primarily responsible for citizen complaints against their employees or agencies,
and that appropriate local resources will be utilized for the resolution of such
complaints. For complaints against city employees or agencies, address
your complaint to the head of the city agency, the city attorney's office, the
mayor's office, and your representative on the city council.For complaints against county employees or agencies, address
your complaint to the head of the county agency, the county counsel's office and
your representative on the county Board of Supervisors.If you believe you have information indicating criminal
conduct on the part of a public employee, you should immediately contact the
appropriate police
or sheriff's department in the city or county where the
incident occurred.If you feel your complaint about improper governmental
activities has not been addressed satisfactorily by the local government agency,
consider submitting your complaint to the county grand jury. Contact information is
available from the California Grand Jurors' Association. If after investigation the grand jury concurs with your
allegations, it will request the intervention of the district attorney. The state
Attorney General would not ordinarily become involved in such a case unless the
local district attorney had a conflict of interest that would prevent the district
attorney from making any criminal charging decision in the case.If after taking these steps you continue to doubt the
legality of an action taken by your local officials, consult a private attorney who
can represent your interests in a dispute.
A local government agency has failed to comply with my
Public Records Act request. Who should I notify?The purpose of the Public Records Act is to provide access
to government records so that members of the public can monitor the performance of
government agencies. In recognition of individual rights of privacy and the need of
government agencies to maintain the confidentiality of certain records, the Act
provides several exemptions that permit government agencies to withhold specified
information involving, for example, personnel, investigations, and
litigation.When the Legislature enacted the Public Records Act in 1968,
it provided several judicial remedies for persons who believed that they had been
wrongfully denied records to which they were entitled. These remedies include the
right to seek injunctive or declaratory relief or a writ of mandate in the Superior
Court. (See Government Code sections 6258-6259.) Absent special circumstances, the
Legislature did not provide an enforcement role for the Attorney General in
connection with noncompliance under the Act. However, you may wish to consult with a
private attorney to evaluate your options under the judicial remedies discussed
above.For additional information, please see our Summary of the California Public Records
Act
A local government agency is violating the Brown Act.
Who should I notify?Your local district attorney has jurisdiction over alleged
violations of the Brown Act when the members of a body meet and take action with the
intent to deprive the public of information to which the members know the public is
entitled. (Government Code section 54959.) In addition, private citizens or the
district attorney may bring a civil suit to enforce provisions of the Brown Act or
to repeal actions taken in violation of the Act. (Government Code sections 54960 and
54960.1.) The court may award court costs and reasonable attorney fees when it
determines that violations of the Brown Act have occurred. (Government Code section
54960.5.)For additional information, please see our guide The Brown Act, Open Meetings for Local Legislative
Bodies
I am the victim of a crime. I want the crime to be
investigated and for the perpetrator of the crime be prosecuted. Who can help
me?If you have information about a crime, please file a report
with the police or sheriff's department in the area where the crime occurred.
Local law
enforcement authorities are responsible for investigating
violations of law within their jurisdictions. After investigating the crime, the
local law enforcement authorities may forward the case to the county district
attorney's office for prosecution, if appropriate. The decision whether or not to
file criminal charges will then be made by the locally elected district
attorney.It is the Department of Justice general
policy that local governments will be primarily responsible for citizen
complaints against law enforcement agencies or employees of law enforcement
agencies, and that appropriate local resources (e.g. sheriff or police department,
district attorney, and citizens review commission in the area of jurisdiction) be
utilized for resolution of such complaints. The Attorney General will review citizen
complaints against a law enforcement agency or its employees for possible
investigation when substantive allegations of unlawful conduct are made and all
appropriate local resources for redress have been exhausted. You should first direct
your complaint to the local law enforcement agency. Every law enforcement agency in
California is required to establish a procedure to investigate citizens' complaints
(Penal
Code Section 832.5). A written description of the procedure is available
from all law enforcement agencies. If you are alleging that a law enforcement
officer committed a crime and your complaint is not resolved by your complaint to
the agency, you should next contact the county district attorney in the county where
the law enforcement agency is located. Contact information for county district
attorneys is available from the California District
Attorney’s Association. If your complaint involves alleged criminal
misconduct and the local agencies do not act upon it, you may write to the Attorney
General's Office. Your correspondence must include specific information about
misconduct that violates state law, the details of your efforts to resolve the
complaint with the local authorities, copies of your complaint(s) to the local
authorities and copies of their response(s). Correspondence that does not contain
this information cannot be acted upon.
Law Enforcement Complaint Form. [Spanish
Form]
I have concerns about the manner in which the county
district attorney is handling a case in which I am the victim. Who should I
contact?California law gives discretionary authority to a locally
elected prosecutor in filing criminal actions. The decision whether or not to file
charges calls for consideration of the prospects of obtaining a conviction against a
particular defendant. In making that decision, the district attorney must evaluate
the likelihood that a jury, after weighing all of the conflicting evidence, would
find the defendant guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt."We understand it is not uncommon for members of the public
to differ with the district attorney on the question of whether the filing of
criminal charges is warranted. However, that decision rests with the locally elected
official responsible for such a decision, the district attorney. Your concerns
should be addressed directly to the district attorney
I need information about resources available to victims.
Who should I contact?Victim/Witness Assistance Centers are located in every
county, usually within the District Attorney's Office. Contact information is
available at https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/victim-services/resources-county/In addition, please visit our Victims’ Services Unit
website, at http://oag.ca.gov/victimservices
I am being prosecuted for a crime that I did not commit.
Who should I contact?We appreciate the time and effort it has taken to contact
our office. However, at this time we are unable to assist you. The California
Attorney General’s office represents the state in criminal appellate cases. The
office does not represent individual defendants and cannot provide legal advice. We
suggest that you consult with your attorney. Your attorney directly represents your
interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful to you. If you have
already been convicted of a crime and are seeking a pardon, you should contact the
Office of the Governor. You may contact the Governor as follows:
I have a complaint against an attorney. Who should I
contact?The State Bar of California takes complaints against
attorney, investigates those complaints and prosecutes attorneys against whom
allegations of unethical conduct appear to be justified. You may contact the Bar as
follows:
State Bar of California
Intake Unit
845 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Telephone: (213) 765-1000 (outside of CA) or (800) 843-9053 (toll free)
I have a complaint against a judge. Who should I
contact?The Commission on Judicial Performance is the independent
state agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and
judicial incapacity and for disciplining judges. You may contact the Commission as
follows:
I have a complaint against a state correctional facility
or correctional employee. Who should I contact? The Office of the Inspector General is responsible for
independent oversight of the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, which includes Adult Operations, Adult Programs, Juvenile Justice,
the Corrections Standards Authority, the Board of Parole Hearings, the State
Commission on Juvenile Justice, the Prison Industry Authority, and the Prison
Industry Board. You may contact the Inspector General as follows:
I need legal advice or representation. Who can help
me?The Office of the Attorney General is prohibited by law from
representing private individuals or providing legal advice, legal research or legal
analysis to private individuals under any circumstances. You may obtain a referral
to a certified lawyer referral service by calling the State Bar at 1-866-442-2529
(toll free in California) or 415-538-2250 (from outside California), or via their
website at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov.
I cannot afford a private attorney. What free or
low-cost legal assistance is available?If you cannot afford a private attorney, you may consider
contacting your local legal aid office. For a referral, visit www.lawhelpca.org/ and
click on the Find Legal Assistance tab.
How do I request an Attorney General's opinion?Under Government Code section 12519, the Attorney General's
Office has statutory authority to prepare an opinion only for designated public
officials on questions of law relating to their respective offices. Those officials
include constitutional officers, state legislators, state agencies, district
attorneys, prosecuting city attorneys, county counsels, county sheriffs and judges.
If you are not a designated public official and you wish to obtain a legal opinion,
we suggest that you consult with a private attorney.If you are a designated public official, please visit our
Legal Opinions page at https://oag.ca.gov/opinions
I lost a civil lawsuit, and I feel the outcome was
unjust. Who can help me?The Attorney General has no jurisdiction in matters already
before the court or in matters where the courts have already rendered a decision. In
addition, we are prohibited by law from representing private individuals or
providing legal advice, legal research or legal analysis to private individuals
under any circumstances. We suggest that you consult with a private attorney to
determine any civil remedies that may be available to you. An attorney would
directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful
to you.
I have a complaint about the attorney and/or judge
involved in my case. Who do I contact?Your complaint about a California attorney should be
directed to the State Bar. You may contact the Bar as follows:
State Bar of California
1149 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015-2299
Telephone: (213) 765-1000 (outside of CA) or (800) 843-9053 (toll free)
Your complaint about a California judge should be directed
to the Commission on Judicial Performance. The Commission has exclusive jurisdiction
over complaints against judges. You may contact the Commission as follows:
How do I obtain court forms?You may obtain court forms by visiting the Judicial Council
of California / Administrative Office of the Courts website at: https://www.courts.ca.gov/formsrules.htm
How do I get copies of vital records (e.g. birth
certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees)?California birth, death, fetal death, still birth, marriage
and divorce records are maintained by the California Department of Public Health
Vital Records. This agency may be contacted as follows:
How do I authenticate official documents to be used
outside of the United States?The California Secretary of State provides authentication
(apostille or certification) of public official signatures on documents to be used
outside the United States. This agency may be contacted as follows:
How do I obtain court records (e.g. pleadings, exhibits,
transcripts)?Our office does not maintain court records. Court records
are kept in the court clerk's office. To obtain a court record, you will need to
contact the clerk of the court where the case was
adjudicated. The clerk will either be able to provide you with the record, or advise
you if the record has been transferred or destroyed.If you are seeking a criminal case record that has been
purged by a local court, you may have been referred to our office in error. Our
office does maintain criminal history summary records. However, these records are
lists of arrests and convictions attributable to an individual, not the actual court
record. Individuals have the right to request a copy of their own criminal history
summary record from our office to review the information for accuracy and
completeness. Information about how to obtain your own state summary
criminal history record is available at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/security
How do I obtain a copy of a will or trust?Neither our office nor any other State office routinely
maintains copies of wills and trusts. We suggest that you contact the attorney who
prepared the will or trust. If the estate has already been probated, contact the
Superior Court in the county where the death
occurred or where the assets are primarily located.
How do I obtain corporate records for business entities,
such as corporations?The Secretary of State's Office provides access to
corporate, limited liability company and limited partnership information. Available
information includes the complete entity name, entity number, formation,
registration or conversion date, status, jurisdiction, entity address, and the name
and address of the agent for service of process. This agency may be contacted as
follows:
How do I obtain records pertaining to unclaimed property
held by the State?State law requires businesses to turn over unclaimed money
and property to the state Controller's Office. The unclaimed property typically
stems from bank accounts, dividends, uncashed checks, matured or terminated
insurance policies or certificates of deposit. If you want to find out if California
is holding money or property for you, please contact:
Office of the Controller
Division of Collections
Bureau of Unclaimed Property
P.O. Box 942850
Sacramento, CA 94250-5873
Telephone: (800) 992-4647 (within California) or (916) 323-2827 (outside
California)
You don't need to pay anyone for this service. Owners or
heirs may claim their property directly from the state Controller's Office without
any service charges or fees.If you suspect that you may have unclaimed property being
held in another state, there are additional resources to assist you. You can search
for this information for free at https://unclaimed.org/ ,which is a website maintained by the
National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.Unclaimed property from a failed bank may also be held by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). To contact the FDIC, go to https://www.fdic.gov/index.html or call 1-877-275-3342 (toll
free).
How do I obtain records of complaints against
businesses?Unfortunately, there is no one-stop shop for checking out
companies, and our office cannot give you personal legal advice or comment on the
legitimacy of a particular business. By researching a company, you may be able to
detect whether the business is legitimate and help ensure that you invest wisely
your hard-earned money. If you have any doubts about a company's business practices,
here is some general advice to consider:
Ask for a list of references. The list should include
companies from which the company buys materials, as well as distributors or
customers to whom the company sells products or services.
Ask for a business statement. A business statement
should describe the daily practices of the company. It should provide general
information on the company, such as the number of years in business, its
locations, the owners and a description of its organizational structure.
Ask about licenses and compliance with applicable state and
local requirements. Find out what licenses the company must possess
and who to contact to verify that the licenses have been obtained. Find out what
actions the company has taken to ensure that all its actions are legal within
the State of California.
Ask about a stock portfolio or income statement. If you
are thinking about investing in a company, ask for a stock portfolio or income
statement. These documents will provide the investor with information on the
company's assets and liabilities. If the firm is publicly traded, check the
company's website for financial statements and other regulatory filings. Conduct
an Internet search for as much information as you can learn about the company's
performance and conduct, and what others are saying about the company.
Check complaints about the company. As a law
enforcement agency, the Attorney General's Office does not release information
on consumer complaints that involve as-yet-unproven allegations that could
create misleading and unfair impressions about a company. Our Consumer
Protection Section uses these consumer complaints to look for patterns of
deceptive or unfair business practices where legal action brought by the
Attorney General could serve the interest of the general public. While
information from our office is limited, you may able to learn about consumer
complaints about the company by contacting the Better Business Bureau where the
company is located or doing business. See https://www.bbb.org/.
I have a complaint about a child custody case. Who
should I contact?The Attorney General’s Office cannot assist you with a child
custody or visitation matter. Concerns about child custody and visitation orders
issued by the Family Court must be directed to the Family Court Services Office in the county
where the orders were issued. Family Court Investigators, Child Custody Evaluators,
and Family Court Mediators are available to provide dispute resolution in each of
the 58 counties. If you suspect that a child's health or safety is
jeopardized due to abuse or neglect by a parent or other caretaker who has custody
of the child, please contact the police or sheriff's department and the Child Welfare
Services Agency in the county where the child resides. If you
are the victim of parental child stealing or willful concealment of your child to
frustrate visitation, you should file a report with your local police or sheriff's
department, who will refer the case to the county District Attorney's Office for
prosecution, if appropriate.If you have a complaint against the judge assigned to this
case, contact the Commission on Judicial Performance. The Commission is responsible
for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity and for
disciplining judges. The Commission may be contacted as follows:
If you have a complaint against an attorney involved with
this case, contact the State Bar. The Bar takes complaints against attorneys from
citizens and other sources, investigates those complaints, and prosecutes attorneys
against whom allegations of unethical conduct appear to be justified. You may
contact the Bar as follows:
Intake Unit
State Bar of California
1149 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Telephone: (213) 765-1000 (outside of CA) or (800) 843-9053 (toll free)
If you have a complaint against a mediator or evaluator with
Family Court Services, talk to the Director of Family Court Services at your local court to
find out how to make a complaint. Follow the procedures for filing a complaint in
your court. If you are not happy with the result after you file the complaint, you
can explain your complaint to the judge at the time of your hearing. If your
complaint is about ethical conduct, or if you believe the court did not deal with
your complaint appropriately, there are state licensing boards that address
complaints about licensed professionals.The Board of Behavioral Sciences licenses and regulates
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), and
Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEP). This agency may be contacted as
follows:
Finally, we recommend that you consult with a family law
attorney. An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose
advice would be most helpful to you. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer
referral service by contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in
California) or (415)538-2250 (from outside California), or via their website at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov.
I need help with an international child custody issue.
Who should I contact?
United States Department of State
Office of Children's Issues
SA-29, Fourth Floor
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520-2818
Telephone: (888) 407-4747 (toll free) or 202-501-4444
I have a complaint against Child Protective Services
(CPS). Who should I contact?The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is
responsible for providing statewide oversight of county Child Welfare Services (CWS)
programs. The Office of Foster Care Ombudsman, within the California Department of
Social Services (CDSS), handles complaints against county Child Welfare Services
(CWS) programs. You may contact this agency as follows:
Complaints about county agencies in California that provide
CWS should be sent to the Department of Social Services only after efforts have been
made to resolve problems directly with county management. To do this, you must send
the county agency a letter explaining your concerns with a request that they respond
to you in writing. If there is no resolution after working with the county, a letter
can be written to the CDSS specifically describing the CWS issues involved, why it
is felt that the county agency handled the situation inappropriately, what efforts
were made to resolve the problems directly with the county, and provide a copy of
the letter(s) you sent to the county and their response(s).Information should also be provided regarding the names,
ages or dates of births, and addresses of all the children involved; the names of
the parents or other caretakers; and the names and office location of county CWS
agency staff already familiar with the case. Letters with the above information
should be mailed to the CDSS at the physical address or e-mail address shown above.
I have a complaint about a public school. Who should I
contact?You may want to contact the California Department of
Education (CDE), which has limited jurisdiction over some types of complaints
against schools and school districts. The areas in which the CDE has complaint
oversight are explained below. You may also file a written complaint with our
Office. While our Office cannot represent private individuals in personal matters
nor provide you with individual assistance, we do review complaints to develop
information about patterns or practices of activities which might indicate the need
for formal investigation or law enforcement action by our office.If your complaint pertains to special education, please
contact:
If your complaint pertains to categorical programs that are
mandated by statute, such as No Child Left Behind or Limited English Proficiency,
please contact:
Other types of complaints against a school, district,
principal, teacher, or school personnel may not be within the jurisdiction of the
California Department of Education or any other state agency, and should be
addressed at the local level. Generally, those issues handled at the local level may
include hiring and evaluation of staff, classroom assignments, student advancement
and retention, selection/provision of textbooks and materials, student discipline,
provision of core curricula subjects, facilities, graduation requirements, homework
policies and practices, use of general education funds, dress codes, and school
uniforms.Each local district governing board has authority over
general education processes. Please contact your local school district
administration to determine what local processes govern the resolution of
complaints. If your complaint is against a principal, teacher, or school personnel,
you may want to ask your local district for information on their employee grievance
process. If you have knowledge of misconduct by a teacher or principal, please
contact:
Finally, you may wish to consult with an attorney to
determine any civil remedies that may be available to you. An attorney would
directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful
to you. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer referral service by
contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in California) or (415)538-2250
(from outside California), or via their website at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov.
I was married outside of the United States. Is my
marriage legal or recognized in California?For information on this topic, please refer to Family Code Section 308, which reads in
pertinent part: A marriage contracted outside this state that would be valid by the
laws of the jurisdiction in which the marriage was contracted is valid in this
state.You should also be aware that a foreign marriage certificate
cannot be recorded in California. If you need to establish a record of the marriage
in California, you can file a petition in Superior Court to establish a Court Order Delayed Certificate of
marriage.
If you have any questions or need any further information, please consult with your
County Clerk or County Recorder's Office and/or a private family law attorney.
Who is permitted to perform marriages in
California?For information on this topic, please refer to California Family Code Sections 400-402.
If you have any questions or need any further information,
please consult with your County Clerk or County Recorder's Office, the California Department of Public Health, and/or a private
family law attorney.
I was divorced outside of the United States. Is my
divorce legal or recognized in California?For information on this topic, please refer to California Family Code Sections
2090-2093.In addition, we recommend that you consult with a private
attorney. An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose
advice would be most helpful to you. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer
referral service by contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in
California) or (415)538-2250 (from outside California), or via their website at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov
How can I obtain information about unlawful
discrimination?Please visit our Civil Rights page at https://oag.ca.gov/civilrights
I wish to report a violation of the Americans With
Disabilities Act (ADA). Who do I contact?The agency with authority to investigate violations of the
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is the U.S. Department of Justice. You may
contact this agency as follows:
The state agency with authority to investigate complaints of
discrimination in the areas of public accommodation, employment, housing, and hate
violence is the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. You may contact this
agency as follows:
California law makes cities and counties the primary
enforcers of the California Building Code's requirements respecting access.
Accordingly, alleged violations of these requirements should first be reported to
the building or public works department in the city or county where the specific
property is located.In addition, individuals who experience discrimination or
other violations of law can often file a lawsuit in court. You may wish to consult
with a private attorney to determine any civil remedies that may be available to
you. An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice
would be most helpful to you. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer
referral service by contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in
California) or (415)538-2250 (from outside California), or via their website at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/.
My employer is discriminating against me. Who do I
contact?
My employer is violating California labor laws and/or
owes me wages. Who do I contact?The state agency with the authority to adjudicate wage
claims and enforce labor laws is the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of
Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). Examples of possible wage claims include the
nonpayment of wages, overtime, or vacation. Examples of possible labor law
violations include failure to provide workers compensation insurance, child labor,
cash pay, unlicensed contractors, minimum wage and overtime claims, failure to
provide rest and/or meal periods, and discrimination or retaliation for exercising
employee rights or engaging in protected activities. To file a wage claim or report
a labor law violation, please contact the DLSE district office closest to the
city/location/community where you performed work. A list of DLSE district offices
and their contact information is available at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/DistrictOffices.htmThe Department of Industrial Relations, Division of
Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is responsible for enforcing California
laws and regulations pertaining to workplace safety and health. To report a
workplace accident, or to file a complaint, please contact the Cal/OSHA enforcement
unit district office closest to the workplace where the accident occurred or the
complaint conditions exist. A list of Cal/OSHA district offices and their contact
information is available at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/DistrictOffices.htmIf you have information that an employer is committing tax
evasion, please contact the appropriate state and/or federal tax enforcement
agencies. These agencies may be contacted as follows:State income tax:
If your employer retaliates against you because of your
efforts to report alleged wrongdoing, you may wish to seek whistleblower protection
pursuant to California Labor Code Section 1102.5. You may do so by
filing a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Complaint
Investigations Unit. This agency may be contacted as follows:
California Department of Industrial Relations
Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
Discrimination Complaint Investigations Unit
2031 Howe Avenue, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95825
This Discrimination Complaints Investigations Unit handles
complaints from employees who are retaliated against by their employer for
disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency where the employee
has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of a
state or federal statute, or violation or noncompliance with a state or federal
regulation, including, laws enacted for the protection of corporate shareholders,
investors, employees, and the general public. This agency also handles complaints
from employees who are retaliated against by their employer because they refuse to
participate in an activity that would result in a violation of a state or federal
statute, or noncompliance with a state or federal rule or regulation.In addition, individuals who experience violations of law
can often file a lawsuit in court. You may wish to consult with a private attorney
to determine any civil remedies that may be available to you. An attorney would
directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful
to you. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer referral service by
contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in California) or (415)538-2250
(from outside California), or via their website at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/.
I am the victim of housing discrimination? Who do I
contact?
