Holding government accountable, on every front
Our work focuses on the places where government power most directly affects individual rights and everyday life. We expose misconduct, draft policy, and litigate against agencies that abuse their power—through public records, media pressure, and strategic lawsuits.
What We Do
California Civil Defense Institute helps Californians fight government abuse, expose corruption, protect civil liberties, and improve public institutions. Our work combines investigations, public accountability, legal action, policy reform, statewide projects, and partnerships with the broader public-interest legal community.
01
Public Records & Investigations
We use public-records laws, government data, internal communications, contracts, enforcement files, and citizen complaints to investigate misconduct, corruption, inconsistent enforcement, and other abuses of government power.
02
Public Awareness & Government Watch
We bring government activity directly to the public through investigations, social media, California Government Watch, and Government Watch projects covering all 58 California counties. Transparency turns isolated problems into public accountability.
03
Litigation & Legal Action
When records requests, advocacy, and public pressure are not enough, legal action may be necessary. We evaluate and support public-interest matters involving civil liberties, due process, property rights, transparency, unlawful enforcement, and government abuse.
04
Public Policy & Reform
We analyze laws, ordinances, regulations, and government practices that create recurring problems for Californians. We develop practical reforms designed to make government more lawful, fair, transparent, efficient, and accountable.
05
Projects, Data & Technology
We build specialized accountability projects and technology, including our Short-Term Rental Rights & Reform project, statewide Government Watch infrastructure, investigative databases, citizen tools, and an AI-supported Viability Engine for evaluating public-interest matters and identifying patterns across government systems.
06
Legal & Law School Partnerships
We develop working relationships with attorneys, law firms, public-interest organizations, and California law schools. These relationships support referrals, research, litigation, externships, legal training, case development, and opportunities to help train the next generation of civil-liberties attorneys.
Have questions about what we do?
Find answers about how CCDI enforces the California Public Records Act, investigates misuse of public funds, addresses police misconduct, challenges abusive permitting and zoning, advances administrative law reform, and defends First Amendment rights.
Your case deserves to be heard
Submit your situation to CCDI and let's expose the abuse. We investigate, build cases, and hold government accountable.