crime records Archives - Page 5 of 9 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

19 Jan, 2015

Tennessee Supreme Court agrees to hear public records case involving police files

By Deborah Fisher|2015-01-19T10:30:15-06:00January 19, 2015|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: crime records, Lauren Sturm, Nashville, Robb Harvey, Tennessee Supreme Court, The Tennessean, Vanderbilt rape case|0 Comments

The Tennessee Supreme Court has granted the application of The Tennessean and other media organizations to appeal a Court of Appeals decision regarding what police records are exempt from the Tennessee Public Records Act. In a Sept. 30 ruling, the Court of Appeals said that Criminal Court Rule 16(a)(2) acts as an exemption to allow police to withhold records relevant to an ongoing investigation. The opinion was written by Judge Richard Dinkins and joined by Judge Frank G. Clement Jr. and reversed a trial court ruling that police must release some records. A dissent was written by Judge Neal McBrayer, who said that the criminal court rule exempted some records, [...]

6 Oct, 2014

Dinkins opinion in public records case expands police secrecy powers
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Dinkins opinion in public records case expands police secrecy powers

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Dinkins opinion in public records case expands police secrecy powers

By Deborah Fisher|2014-10-07T12:07:44-05:00October 6, 2014|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: crime records, Judge Neal McBrayer, Judge Richard Dinkins, police secrecy, The Tennessean|1 Comment

The Court of Appeals in Nashville last week kicked the can farther down the wrong road when it expanded police powers so they could keep just about anything and everything they want secret from citizens. Judge Richard Dinkins of the Court of Appeals, Nashville Specifically, Judge Richard Dinkins said that if your local police or sheriff’s department claims information is relevant to an ongoing investigation, they should be able to keep that information confidential. As police have concluded across the state when refusing to release basic documents about crime, “under investigation” covers almost everything they do. It’s not a harmless power to hand over. News media has been [...]

1 Oct, 2014

The Tennessean: Judges block access to Vandy rape case records

By Deborah Fisher|2021-02-02T12:29:13-06:00October 1, 2014|Categories: crime records|Tags: crime records, Judge Neal McBrayer, Judge Richard Dinkins, The Tennessean|0 Comments

The Court of Appeals at Nashville ruled against the media coalition seeking police records in the Vanderbilt rape case, reversing the trial court that had granted access. Judge Richard Dinkins wrote the opinion, with Frank G. Clement joining (Dinkins opinion here). Judge W. Neal McBrayer dissented (McBrayer opinion here). Here is a link to The Tennessean's story online: Judge blocks access to Vanderbilt rape case records

14 Aug, 2014

Power of a news camera to shine light

By Deborah Fisher|2014-08-14T07:50:04-05:00August 14, 2014|Categories: crime records|Tags: crime records, tv cameras|0 Comments

Commentary on Daily Kos on the power of a news camera in covering conflict, using a John Kudelka political cartoon from 2004 to talk about journalists covering Ferguson and and other hot spots right now. Most reporters don't head into such dangerous zones in their daily coverage of local government. And most don't carry the shoulder cameras. But probably all now have the ability to shoot video and photos, even if not trained as a photojournalist. That's sunshine multiplied. In police situations, video from law enforcement's own cameras, such as dash cams, are public record and can be equally important in transparency. In Tennessee, journalists, citizens and government officials should continue [...]

3 Jul, 2014

When police shoot a citizen, public records can shed light

By Deborah Fisher|2014-07-03T11:48:11-05:00July 3, 2014|Categories: crime records|Tags: Blount County, crime records, The Daily Times|1 Comment

It’s not always easy to obtain public records, but when they are critical to answering questions about an issue of public interest, knowing the law and persistence helps. On Aug. 21, 2013, a Blount County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a citizen who was in his own garage. The young sheriff’s deputy was doing a property check because the citizen had reported two burglaries there earlier in the week. He shined a light through a window, saw a man with a gun, and fired multiple shots in what the sheriff later said was a “very tragic incident.” The Daily Times in Maryville kept tabs on the case, which was being [...]

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