VA HB 1087 Reported Dead (Closed Some Public Records)
Posted by Bill on February 22, 2008
The Virginia legislature’s HB 1087 provided “that the social security number of any individual contained in the public records of a local government shall be confidential and exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill provides, however, that a social security number may be released (i) in accordance with a proper judicial order; (ii) to any law-enforcement agency, officer, or authorized agent thereof acting in the performance of official law-enforcement duties;”
PIAVA advised the appropriate committees and individual legislators that DCJS licensed security businesses and private investigators should have access to identifying data in court records to ensure “due process of law” and fair trails in civil and criminal litigation matters. Our reasoning is that a “fair trial” is a constitutional issue. If the Commonwealth Attorney (Prosecutor) and the law enforcement have access to identifying data in public records, private investigators should have the same access so that a person’s right to a “fair trial” is not compromised.
PIAVA attended several sub-committee hearings on the bill. Richmond Sunlight Click Here, reports that HB 1087 was finally referred to the General Laws Committee where it remains today. They report that the bill is dead.
PIAVA hopes that the legislature will work to ensure fairness in access to public records while at the same time safeguarding an individual’s right to privacy. PIAVA is prepared to assist the legislature or offer any helpful information for insight into the private investigation industry.
Posted in Investigations, PIAVA, Public Records, Research, Virginia, attorneys, crime, law enforcement, lawyers, private detective, private investigations, private investigators | Tagged: Virginia, Investigations, private investigators, SSN, privacy, private investigations, due process, fair trial, legislature | 2 Comments »
