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Are Police tapes of arrests open for review? (Read 666 times)
pistolpete
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Are Police tapes of arrests open for review?
Jul 31st, 2009 at 1:15pm
 
Are police audio tapes that are used as evidence years ago, open to the public to listen to after a case has been settled?
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Kim de B
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It's your government.
It's your right to know.

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Re: Are Police tapes of arrests open for review?
Reply #1 - Jul 31st, 2009 at 1:34pm
 
It's unlikely you will get access to these tapes, although there is no harm in filing a Right to Know Request and trying.

Under the Right to Know Law, an agency is permitted to withhold records related to a criminal investigation, even after the case is closed. Here is the language of the law, which says the following may be withheld from public disclosure:

(16) A record of an agency relating to or resulting in a criminal investigation, including:

(i) Complaints of potential criminal conduct other than a private criminal complaint.

(ii) Investigative materials, notes, correspondence, videos and reports.

(iii) A record that includes the identity of a confidential source or the identity of a suspect who has not been charged with an offense to whom confidentiality has been promised.

(iv) A record that includes information made confidential by law or court order.

(v) Victim information, including any information that would jeopardize the safety of the victim.

(vi) A record that, if disclosed, would do any of the following:

(A) Reveal the institution, progress or result of a criminal investigation, except the filing of criminal charges.

(B) Deprive a person of the right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication.

(C) Impair the ability to locate a defendant or codefendant.

(D) Hinder an agency's ability to secure an arrest, prosecution or conviction.

(E) Endanger the life or physical safety of an individual.
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Kim de Bourbon
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Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition
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