re: #428 wheat-dogghazi-bola

If he has not yet been charged with a crime, then the police cannot release criminal records. But a news agency can do its own research to find out if a person has a criminal record — court records would be one way to find convictions or acquittals.

Once a person is charged with a crime (as in “book ‘em, Dano!”), then the police at the discretion of the DA can release information about the accused.

It depends, most departments specifically tell employees they’re not allowed to the talk to the media (e.g., something like “all department communications to the media will be made through the Chief’s office or his designated press relations personnel”) or disclose information (for a number of reasons, including compromising investigations, etc.).

In addition, most officers have access to a statewide criminal information network, but most states also make it against the law to query the database for non-law enforcement reasons or disclose the information outside law enforcement personnel.