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Police Still Have Access to Records That Are Supposedly Sealed, Suit Alleges
by Bill Barton
According to a recent Collateral Consequences Resource Center report, “While police in 12 states are prevented by law from accessing records of arrests that did not result in a conviction, officers in New York and elsewhere can look up such files if they get permission …
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More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- Federal Rules Limit Searches of Private DNA Databases, by Jayson Hawkins
- Unsurprisingly Lenient Sentence for Rapist Cop, by Anthony Accurso
- Kim Kardashian Keeps Going, Helps Release D.C. Prisoner, by Dale Chappell
- Court Rulings Condemning Cash Bail Systems Increasing, by Edward Lyon
- More Crooked Cops in New York City Make the Naughty List, by Douglas Ankney
- For the Mentally Ill, Calling 911 Could Prove Deadly, by Edward Lyon
- Alabama Sheriff Denied Immunity for False Charges Against Whistleblower, by Anthony Accurso
- Police Still Have Access to Records That Are Supposedly Sealed, Suit Alleges, by Bill Barton
- DNA Contamination Threatened Conviction of Innocent Man, by Kevin Bliss
- White Cop Gets 10 Years for Murder; Black Kid Gets 10 Days for Oversleeping, by Douglas Ankney
- DA’s Office Files Bar Complaint on Its Own Former Prosecutor, by Anthony Accurso
- Tenth Annual NRC Report Magnifies Limits of Forensic Evidence, by Bill Barton
- Critics Claim Thin Blue Line Protects Cops and Prosecutors in Orange County, California, by Bill Barton
- Study Confirms Immigrants Sentenced More Harshly in Non-Immigrant Areas, by Dale Chappell
- Prosecutors Transform Due Process into ‘Dues Processed’, by Douglas Ankney
- New Tennessee Legislation Will Destroy Hundreds, Probably Thousands, of Families, by Sandy Rozek
- Employers are Adjusting to Hiring Ex-Offenders, by Anthony Accurso
- Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Kansas Considers It Acceptable to Listen to Attorney-Client Conversations, by Kevin Bliss
- Sixth Circuit Vacates Sentence Because District Court Relied on Uncharged Shooting Allegation for Upward Departure from Sentencing Guidelines Range, by Douglas Ankney
- Washington Supreme Court Remands for Resentencing Where State Failed to Prove Criminal History, by Douglas Ankney
- Washington Supreme Court Affirms Reversals of Murder Convictions, Overrules Townsend, by Douglas Ankney
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Announces New Test in Comparing Out-of-State Priors for Sentence Enhancement for Repeat Sex Offenders, by Michael Berk
- Vermont Supreme Court Rejects ‘Blanket Rule’ Requiring Fingerprinting in Misdemeanor Cases, by Dale Chappell
- Mississippi Supreme Court Abolishes ‘Pre-Arming’ Jury Instruction, by Dale Chappell
- Second Circuit Holds Appointment of Counsel for Direct Appeal Not Subject to Frivolousness Rule, by Dale Chappell
- Lies by Former Houston Cop Facing Murder Charge Might Affect Over 14,000 Cases, by David M. Reutter
- The ‘First Step’ Has Been Taken — What’s Next?, by Dale Chappell
- Ninth Circuit Affirms Habeas Relief Where Counsel Failed to Present Mitigating Evidence at Penalty Phase, by Douglas Ankney
- Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Conviction for Failure to Give Accomplice-Corroboration Jury Instruction, by Douglas Ankney
- California Court of Appeal Invalidates Title 15 § 3490(a)(5) of the California Code of Regulations, by Douglas Ankney
- Nevada Supreme Court Announces Rule for When Hearing Required on Fair-Cross-Section of Community Violation Claim in Jury Selection, by Dale Chappell
- Ohio Supreme Court Announces State Cannot Raise Fourth Amendment Standing Issue for First Time on Appeal, by Douglas Ankney
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Georgia’s Terroristic Threats Statute Not Violent Felony for ACCA, by Dale Chappell
- New York Court of Appeals Reverses Conviction Where Trial Court Negotiated Cooperation Agreement with Codefendant, by Anthony Accurso
- Nation’s First-Ever Nonprofit Forensics Laboratory Coming to Utah, by Douglas Ankney
- Hawai’i Supreme Court: Time Spent in Arizona Prison Counts Toward Speedy Trial Rule in Hawai’i, by Anthony Accurso
- Eleventh Circuit: Selling Body Armor Doesn’t Satisfy Sentencing Guidelines’ Definition of ‘Use’, by Douglas Ankney
- Fourth Circuit: Magistrate’s Failure to Warn of ACCA Enhancement Was Plain Error, by Douglas Ankney
- Ninth Circuit Vacates Unconstitutionally Vague Supervised-Release Conditions, by David M. Reutter
- Hawai’i Supreme Court Rules Search Warrant Failed to Satisfy the Particularity Requirement for Multiple-Occupancy Dwellings, by Douglas Ankney
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: When Exit Order is Unlawful, Evidence Obtained from Subsequent Search Must be Suppressed, by Douglas Ankney
- First Step Act Earned-Time Credits are Coming ... Eventually and Only to Some Prisoners, by Dale Chappell
- Alaska Supreme Court: Forcing a Defendant to Testify Is Structural Error Requiring Automatic Reversal, by Douglas Ankney
- California Court of Appeal: Electronics Searching Condition Struck in Mandatory Supervision Case, by Anthony Accurso
- Nevada Supreme Court: Parole Board May Petition To Modify Life Sentence, by Anthony Accurso
- Colorado Supreme Court Clarifies and Modifies Analytical Framework for Proportionality Reviews, by Douglas Ankney
- Attacking the Guilty Plea: The ‘Voluntarily and Knowingly Made’ Standard, by Dale Chappell
- Hawai’i Supreme Court Announces Degree of ‘Restraint’ Necessary to Support Kidnapping Conviction, by Douglas Ankney
- Prosecutorial Misconduct: Justice Denied as the System Turns a Blind Eye, by Christopher Zoukis
More from Bill Barton:
- Time to Curb Police Unions, Nov. 15, 2020
- Philadelphia Jails to Release Prisoners Earlier in the Day, Oct. 1, 2020
- Missouri Downsizing Prisons to Save Cash, Oct. 1, 2020
- BOP Official Reportedly Had Sexual Relationship With Former Police Union Head, Sept. 1, 2020
- Alabama Says It Will Reform Prisons, the Nation’s Deadliest, Aug. 1, 2020
- Devastating Consequences of Chicago Gang Database – And No Way to Be Removed, July 15, 2020
- Rappers Jay-Z and Yo Gatti Help Prisoners in Mississippi Sue State Over “Inhumane and Unconstitutional Conditions”, July 1, 2020
- Rhode Island Corrections’ Union President Fined for Excessive Political Donations, June 1, 2020
- Report: Oaks of Justice Pitch to Help Prisoners Return Home Appears Shady, June 1, 2020
- A Mass Purge of Misconduct Records by Phoenix, Arizona Police, May 15, 2020
More from these topics:
- $13 Million Awarded to Exonerated Illinois Prisoner Tortured to Confess by Corrupt Cops, Aug. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Certificate of Innocence, False Imprisonment, Confessions - Coerced.
- San Diego Guard Who Fatally Shot Fleeing Detainee Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison, July 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Shootings, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Police), Wrongful Use of Force.
- Safety of “The Wrap” Restraint Device Questioned Amid Fatalities and Criticism From Medical Experts, July 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Restraints, Police--Excessive Force, Federal Legislation.
- Jury Awards Over $24.4 Million to Kentucky Prisoner Exonerated After 22 Years, Bringing Total Payout for Him and Co-Defendant to Almost $45 Million, June 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Monell Liability, Fabrication of Evidence, Failure to Disclose.
- The Recycled Police Officer: Research Reveals High Cost of Ignoring Prior Misconduct, May 1, 2026. Harassment by Police, Police Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Excessive Force (Police), Police/Govt Misconduct.
- “I Have Nothing to Hide”: Why Innocent People Should Never Talk to Police, March 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Actual Innocence/Claim of Innocence, Interviews/Debriefing.
- Michigan Claws Back $1.2 Million Paid to Wrongfully Convicted Former Prisoner, Feb. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Imprisonment, Qualified Immunity, Forensic Sciences, Fabrication of Evidence.
- Utah Supreme Court Announces Framework for Analyzing Combined Brady and Napue Violations, Affirms Postconviction Relief in Capital Murder Case, Jan. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Prosecutor/Attorney General Misconduct, Perjury/Perjured Testimony, Constructive/Imputed/Presumed knowledge, Brady/Giglio/Jencks Act Issues.
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $45 Million Verdict for Wrongfully Convicted Former Ohio Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Two Exonerated Illinois Prisoners Win Settlements Totaling $14.5 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.





