Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer, Debbie Carter made a presentation at our Public Affairs Reporting class Thursday evening. Carter handed out samples of crime reports, affidavits and a copy of the Florida public records statue.
Carter's presentation was informative and entertaining. Although her PowerPoint was broken, she threw out some jokes throughout to hold the class's attention.
Carter began by discussing her role at the sheriff’s office, which is to cooperate and assist media with events in Hillsborough County. She publishes about 500 press releases, conducts about 600 interviews, and has about 18,000 contacts with the media each year.
She continued discussing some history of public records and Florida Statute 119. Before 1974, law enforcement officials did not have to give public records to the media. Statute 119 is the public records statute; it states what a public record is. Anything that is public record can be accessed by anyone.
Police have the right and responsibility to protect evidence while following public record law. For example, when a case is still open and under investigation, they will release the time, place, and event that occurred. The name, address and sex of an adult arrested, or a juvenile booked with a felony will also be released to the media.
Some pieces of information not released by the sheriff’s office are: identity of a victim of a sex crime, child abuse or neglect; identity of a deceased person until next of kin has been notified; cause of death until determined by the medical examiner; evidential information; contents of a suicide note; and the monetary value of property/money taken in a robbery,
Carter is very knowledgeable about the media, because of her many years working so closely with members of the media.
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1 comment:
I would like to see more journalistic traits in your blog writing. Use some quotes. Show that you took notes and write some intersting things that were said.
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