As members of the law enforcement community, it is our duty to be well-grounded in knowing and correctly applying the laws that govern public access to law enforcement records. This training is intended to provide the necessary resources for a basic understanding of the Maine Freedom of Access Act and the statutes restricting public access to certain records and information. The training is designed to assure compliance with our legal obligation of transparency while protecting the legitimate privacy interests of individuals and the integrity of investigations. Achieving this balance is particularly difficult when processing information requests for law enforcement records where the laws governing access to such records are discretionary and subjective. This training will provide the tools needed to analyze what is public and what is confidential. Participants will leave with an applicable handout helpful in processing these information requests.
Learning objectives:
- The purpose and brief history of “sunshine laws,” such as the Maine Freedom of Access Act and similar laws at the federal and state levels.
- A basic working understanding of the Freedom of Access Act.
- An understanding of the meaning of “confidential” as it applies to law enforcement information, records, and documents.
- Identify and understand statutes regulating public access to records and documents.
- Identify and understand law enforcement-specific statutes that declare documents and records and information to be confidential.
Ideal for: Law enforcement personnel responsible for providing public access to documents and records and other law enforcement information.
MLEAP: 5.01 Privacy and Security of Records
Testimonials from students:
“Difficult and confusing topic made much more clear by an instructor skilled in his craft.”
“The overall class was very informative as the instructor was very well versed in the topic.”
