No, they were not. Police records are not sealed although some (not these) may fall outside of public records laws. Court records, under some circumstances, are sealed. This matter never went to court.
It takes a subpoena and a court order to release this info.
Nope. Not a police report. Not in Arkansas.
This was an illegal release of non-public information.
BZZZT. Strike three. But we have some lovely parting gifts.
If it was ok to release the info, then why did the judge last week destroy all the records for this case, preventing any further FOIA releases?
From what I understand, in most places (because both victims & abuser were under 18), nothing could be released-regardless of how old abuser was when the police were notified.
I’m not trying to argue; just sincerely curious. Laws can differ, of course, but most state laws regarding juvenile cases are pretty strict. I used to be a CASA volunteer, and there’s no way those records in those cases I was on could legally be released, whether or not they were sealed, and regardless of FOIA or not. Again, just curious.
BZZZT. Strike three. But we have some lovely parting gifts.
I was watching Megyn Kelly on Fox News when she firmly said that it was, in fact, an illegal release. Where are you getting your information that it was not?