A legal question

[JVS]

If the police investigate someone but then decide not to prosecute, is their investigation part of the public record? Who has access to the information in it? Is it filed away for later use if needed, or is it like nothing ever happened?

Also, do the rules change if it's police, social services, the IRS, etc?

[daleanime]

1. Kick for curiosity.

:hide:

[HopeHoops]

2. As far as I know, unless you are arrested or charged (but not necessarily both) it is not public.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. It is not public. If the investigation didn't lead to the filing of charges at this time, it can

remain open, but inactive, for decades. Look at several murders that weren't proven until DNA came along.

[safeinOhio]

4. FOIA request.

Worked for me when I found out my ex started an investigation of me. Got to read all the reports. I took copies to those she mentioned in her report and low and behold she filed an amended report with in a week. By the way, she was a cop.

[JVS]

5. Is FOIA applicable to finding out what has been found out in an investigation of someone else?

Could you find out if your neighbor has been investigated and what the info was?

[safeinOhio]

6. You might have to have

some kind of skin in the game. I had to give reasons to get the FOIA. I know the press gets them all of the time. The only public record on a neighbor would be arrest and court actions.
I did get a copy of the complaint that was filed and the results of the investigation of that report.