California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 13202

(a)  1 Notwithstanding subdivision (g) of Section 11105 and subdivision (a) of Section 13305, every public agency or bona fide research institution concerned with the prevention or control of crime, the quality of criminal justice, or the custody or correction of offenders may be provided with criminal offender record information, including criminal court records, as required for the performance of its duties, including the conduct of research. The California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis and researchers affiliated with the center shall be provided with criminal offender record information as required for its research. The material identifying individuals shall only be provided for research and statistical activities and shall not be transferred, revealed, or used for purposes other than research or statistical activities. Reports or publications derived not identify specific individuals. Reasonable costs to the department associated with the department's processing of that data may be billed to the researcher. If a request for data or letter of support for research using the data is denied, the department shall provide a written statement of the specific reasons for the denial. A person shall not be denied information pursuant to this section solely on the basis of that person's criminal record unless the person has been convicted of a felony or another offense that involves moral turpitude, dishonesty, or fraud.