Access To Police Records In Virginia
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-07-23/access-police-records-virginia
When does confidentiality trump the public's right to know? Virginia received an "F" in a State Integrity Investigation analysis of all 50 state's laws and practices related to government transparency and corruption. Transparency advocates want greater public access to police records, while law enforcement officials worry making case files public could endanger victims and witnesses. We'll consider both sides of the issue and whether there's common ground to be found.
Guests
Michael Pope
Northern Virginia reporter, WAMU; political reporter, Connection Newspapers; Author, "Hidden History of Alexandria, D.C." (The History Press)
Dana Schrad
Executive Director, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police
Daniel Metcalfe
executive director, Collaboration on Government Secrecy at American University’s Washington College of Law
John Edwards
Virginia State Senator (D-21)
Comments
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There's a way to protect the identity of witnesses, informants, victims, etc; it's called a black permanent marker. It's been around for a long while. The fact that Florida can do it means that it can be done. Florida is one of the states with the lowest public funding, so the sunshine law clearly isn't a budget breaker.
That means the primary reason why police and other government officials are unwilling to release information that should be public is self-protection.
Once again, all of these imaginary breaches of confidentiality & privacy rights that might happen have not become a problem in Florida for a law that's been around for more than 30 years. Is there any evidence that people in Florida are less willing to report crimes.
The law should be changed to a presumption that records be made available to the public unless the police or government agency makes a specific claim as to why redacted records can't be made available.