NOTICE TO THOSE FILING A REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS

Public Access Request Form

If you are filing a Request for Access to Public Records to view or copy a law enforcement recording, please be advised of the following:

• Your request will be reviewed to determine:

• Whether or not you are a valid requestor;

• Whether or not your request is appropriately specific; and

• Whether or not your request pertains to an ongoing criminal investigation.

Your request may be approved or denied, based on these criteria.

NOTE:  IF YOUR REQUEST IS RELATED TO A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, AND A CRIME FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED, YOUR DEFENSE ATTORNEY WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THESE RECORDINGS FROM THE ALLEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, THROUGH THE CRIMINAL COURT DISCOVERY PROCESS.

• If your request is approved and is to either view, or to obtain copies of, law enforcement recordings, your request will be forwarded to the Digital Evidence Management Unit, who will complete any obscuring or redaction required and/or allowable by law.

• If your request is for a copy of law enforcement recordings, you will be charged for production of those copies.

• If your request is to view those recordings, you will need to set up an appointment with the Digital Evidence Management Unit in order to do so.

• Hours for viewing of recordings generally will be Monday-Friday, 0800-1500 hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

• Viewing is done in a secure area, so anyone viewing these recordings will be subject to security checks, and will be accompanied by a sworn officer at all times during the viewing.

• You are allowed to take notes during your viewing, but are not allowed to use any other recording device to copy those recordings.

• If you choose to have an attorney with you during the viewing process, it is recommended that you take notes, but not engage in conversation with your attorney during the viewing, or while you are in the secured environment.