Pitchess Motion
Posted by copwatch | Sun, 03/13/2011 - 3:00pm story
What is a Pitchess Motion ???
A Pitchess Motion is filed by a defense attorney to force the police to produce information about the police officers which will help the defendant and which is negative towards the police. Citizen complaints*, on the job discipline and other information must be provided.
A California Pitchess motion is a request for information contained in an officer's personnel file. Criminal defense lawyers typically raise this motion when they believe that their client has been the victim of police misconduct.