This is CLETS
By Rebecca Waddell
CLETS stands for the California Law Enforcement Teletype System. At least, that’s what the letters in the acronym stand for. In reality, CLETS is used as the blanket term that describes a number of databases in the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). CJIS databases contain computerized records in one location for the regulated and monitored use by local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies.
CLETS is the system used to access the following CJIS databases:
- Automated Boat System (ABS)
- Automated Firearms System (AFS)
- Automated Property System (APS)
- California Restraining and Protective Order System (CARPOS)
- California Sex and Arson Registry (CSAR)
- Criminal History System (CHS)
- Missing Persons System (MPS) – often combined with UPS and called MUPS
- Stolen Vehicle System (SVS)
- Supervised Release File (SRF)
- Unidentified Persons System (UPS) – often combined with MPS and called MUPS
- Wanted Persons System (WPS)
Access to these records is highly regulated. To have access to a terminal connected to these databases, the operator must first pass a background check, attend training, and pass a test. The training explains the nature of each database as well as teaching the standard required before an approved CLETS user accesses anything: the need to know and the right to know. Before looking up any records in CLETS, there must first be a need to have that information for a legitimate criminal justice-related purpose. The person who needs the information must also have a right to access it and have passed the same stringent requirements mentioned above. Maintaining the security, confidentiality, and integrity of all CJIS information in CLETS is a top priority.
