The Marin District Attorney is committed to assuring honest and open government. All written reports of
governmental corruption are carefully reviewed for evidence of wrongdoing which would warrant action.
Depending upon the nature and extent of the claimed misconduct the District Attorney may refer the
matter to the Fair Political Practices Commission, an appropriate police agency or conduct its own
investigation.
The District Attorney is not empowered to question the decisions of other governmental entities. Issues
of taxes, spending, personnel, and planning and zoning are not matters that can be addressed by this
office. Governmental officials are elected and/or appointed to make such decisions and may do so
provided their proceedings are conducted in an honest, open and public manner as required by law.
The Ralph M. Brown Act
Generally, California's "Open Meeting Law" (commonly called the Brown Act) requires that public
business be conducted in public. The act contains a number of provisions designed to further this
important goal. The act requires local governmental bodies to give notice of their meetings, describe
the business they intend to transact in advance of taking action, receive citizen input and, with
limited exceptions, publicly reach a decision.
Some violations of the Brown Act may constitute misdemeanor crimes but the act provides less serious
remedies for most errors and infractions.
Other Public Integrity Issues
The District Attorney also has responsibility for the enforcement of various laws regulating and
safeguarding the political and governmental process. These include:
Campaign financing disclosure; conflict of interest; corruption; voter registration fraud; and,
election fraud.
Complaints
Complaints should be in writing and signed by the reporting party. The District Attorney will maintain
the anonymity of the reporting person(s) unless disclosure is required by a court of law.
Complaints should be sent to:
Marin County District Attorney
3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 130
San Rafael, California 94903
Attention: Senior Inspector Carl Chapman
