police records Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

22 Jul, 2024

Judge cleared release for many Covenant shooting police records despite copyright ruling on manifesto
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Judge cleared release for many Covenant shooting police records despite copyright ruling on manifesto

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Judge cleared release for many Covenant shooting police records despite copyright ruling on manifesto

By Deborah Fisher|2024-07-24T06:32:25-05:00July 22, 2024|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Chancellor I'Ashea Myles, copyright, Covenant parents, investigative exemption, Metro Nashville, police records, school security, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

Much attention has been given to a ruling by Chancellor I'Ashea Myles blocking release of the Covenant School shooter's manifesto and other writings. But a closer look at the ruling shows that she has cleared the way for release of other records in the case as soon as police officially finish their investigation. In March, police said the investigation would be over in June. In mid-June, they said it would be over in July. So is a release of records imminent?

2 May, 2022

Journalist sues Memphis to gain access to police performance improvement plans
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Journalist sues Memphis to gain access to police performance improvement plans

Public Records

Journalist sues Memphis to gain access to police performance improvement plans

By Deborah Fisher|2022-05-05T14:09:42-05:00May 2, 2022|Categories: Public Records|Tags: Local Legal Initiative, Marc Perrusquia, Memphis, Memphis Police, Paul McAdoo, performance improvement plans, personnel records, police records|0 Comments

Marc Perrusquia, a journalist whose reporting has exposed problems in the Memphis police department, has filed a lawsuit challenging the city's denial of access to documents that would show how the city responded to a history of trouble with three officers.

29 Apr, 2019

Sociology professor studying immigration files public records suit against Knox County sheriff

By Deborah Fisher|2020-11-19T12:41:58-06:00April 29, 2019|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: arrest records, Knox County Sheriff, Meghan Conley, police records|0 Comments

A sociology professor who researches immigration enforcement has filed a public records lawsuit against the Knox County Sheriff, claiming the office has repeatedly violated the law in denying and delaying access to public records. Meghan Conley has made a series of requests over the past 19 months for records related to the sheriff's office's 287(g) program that started almost two years ago. Meghan Conley, a sociology professor at University of Tennessee, has filed a public records lawsuit against the Knox County Sheriff after making a series of public records request related to immigration enforcement. Under the 287(g) program, the Knox County Sheriff's Office is authorized by U.S. Immigration and Customs [...]

13 Dec, 2016

Ohio Supreme Court rules dash cam videos are public records

By Deborah Fisher|2016-12-13T10:44:23-06:00December 13, 2016|Categories: crime records|Tags: litigation, Ohio Supreme Court, police records|0 Comments

In ruling that rejects a blanket investigatory exemption for police records, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that dash cam video is in general a public record, subject to redactions. The ruling has no legal effect in Tennessee, but is relevant because it deals with some of the same legal issues that have arisen in disputes with police here about what should be available to the public under the Tennessee Public Records Act. Some police departments refuse to release incident reports, saying they are part of the investigatory file. Currently, access to body cam footage is under study. In Ohio, the Cincinnati Inquirer in 2015 requested dash cam video [...]

26 Apr, 2016

15 decisions on public records by the Tennessee Legislature in 2016

By Deborah Fisher|2018-11-09T08:23:32-06:00April 26, 2016|Categories: court records, crime records, exemptions, fees, Legislature, Office of Open Records Counsel, requests|Tags: birth certificates, civil asset forfeiture, court records, death certificates, drones, exemptions, fees for public records, government contracts, legislature, police body cameras, police records, police shootings, public notice, tax records, TBI, vendor confidentiality|1 Comment

This year, Tennessee lawmakers punted on public records bills that could have created new access rights to see police body camera video and files of finished investigations into officer-involved shootings. But they did pass several new laws — some that exempted more government information from public view, and others that hold promise for improving government transparency. Following is a roundup of action by the Tennessee Legislature related to public records and access. 1- Police body cameras: After a late-in-session effort to pass a body camera bill and disagreement among stakeholders, the House State Government Committee instructed the Advisory Committee on Open Government to study the issue and provide them with [...]