Government overreach stops here.
California Civil Defense Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public-interest organization helping Californians fight government abuse, expose corruption, and build a better California. We help Californians fight abusive government through public records requests, public education, litigation support, and public policy. Our EIN is 42-1930302.
Because California is worth fighting for.
California Civil Defense Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public-interest organization helping Californians fight abusive government through public records requests, public education, litigation support, and public policy. Our Mission: Helping Californians fight government abuse, expose corruption, and build a better California. Our Vision: A California where citizens are free to live, raise families, build businesses, and thrive without abusive government standing in their way. We believe California should be the best place to live, raise a family, work, build, and thrive. That requires a government that obeys the law, respects citizens, protects civil liberties, and answers to the people it serves.
People We've Supported and Represented
The work Greg and his team are doing in California is long overdue and absolutely essential. You can’t change a system you don’t understand, and CCDI has mastered the strategy, the law, and the discipline required to push back effectively. In a state buried under bureaucracy, red tape, and chronic government overreach, they’re giving everyday people the tools to assert their rights and level the playing field. I’m genuinely grateful for the focus, commitment, and clarity they bring to this fight. It’s time to push back, roll back, and let's make California great again!
Jason Bassler
Founder of The Free Thought Project & Police The Police
What happened to us didn’t feel right from the start. A helicopter over our property, no warrant, then a search that turned up nothing—it was clear something was off, but we didn’t know what to do next. CCDI stepped in and helped us understand exactly what our rights are and how they were violated. They walked us through the tools available—Public Records requests, civil rights claims under §1983, and the Bane Act—and gave us a clear path forward. For the first time, we feel like we’re not just reacting—we actually know how to fight back.
Mike & Kelsey Kamfolt
Farmsteaders in Redding
I’ve been in the fight for transparency for a long time, and what CCDI is doing stands out. They’re not just filing Public Records requests—they’re turning that information into real pressure, using media, exposure, and direct engagement with elected officials to force accountability. That combination matters. It’s one thing to uncover the truth, it’s another to make sure it can’t be ignored. CCDI is doing both, and it’s already making a difference.
Dean Getz
Small Business Owner in El Dorado Hills
We expose abuse. We fight back.
CCDI hunts down government misconduct, dismantles cover-ups, and stands behind every whistleblower brave enough to speak out. We don't just watchdog — we fight back.
Public Records & Transparency
Aggressive use of Public Records Act (PRA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests—backed by enforcement actions when necessary—to obtain critical documents, expose hidden activity, and force transparency from government agencies.
Policy Development & Legislative Action
Drafting and advancing targeted legislation focused on individual liberty, constitutional rights, family stability, and local accountability—designed to eliminate systemic abuse, close legal loopholes, and institutionalize durable reform at the state and local level.
Litigation & Legal Enforcement
Strategic use of demand letters, cease and desist notices, and targeted litigation—including §1983 civil rights claims and Bane Act actions—to enforce constitutional rights, compel compliance with public records laws, and hold government actors accountable.
Public Affairs & Strategic Communications
Strategic communications and public pressure campaigns that combine email outreach, social media, and traditional media to expose findings, shape public narrative, and drive accountability.
Your Case Matters. Report It Today.
Government overreach affects real people. Whether you've experienced abuse, wrongful enforcement, or civil rights violations, CCDI fights back. Share your story and let us investigate.
Real results holding government accountable
Since launching, the California Civil Defense Institute has worked to expose misconduct, support citizens, and drive meaningful change through strategic litigation and policy advocacy.
12 Lawsuits
Lawsuits in Development — Cases We're Building Now These are the investigations and legal actions currently taking shape at CCDI. Some are in early research, others are nearing the filing stage. We publish this to keep the public informed and to invite those with relevant knowledge or experience to come forward.
58 Counties
We operate across all 58 counties in California, bringing civil rights enforcement and government accountability to communities throughout the state.
45 Bills
Every month, we roll up our sleeves and get to work — finding the gaps in California's laws that hurt real people, then writing the exact policy language needed to fix them. We work directly with lawmakers to make sure those changes actually happen.
300K + Views
Reaching over 300,000 monthly views — surpassing the online traffic of most state and local government websites.