Posting Police Reports Online

[ShannaBee]

My question involves defamation in the state of: Arkansas

Is it illegal to scan and post copies of police reports online? My husband's ex wife is accusing my father in law of a horrible offense and has posted the police reports online. My father in law was never arrested or convicted, and she's been spreading this rumor around for almost two years now.

[LawResearcherMissy]

Police reports are not confidential - they are a matter of public record and ANYONE can obtain copies to publish if they choose.

[ShannaBee]

Okay, thanks. Now, is there a certain amount of time when a person files a police report and presses charges? Because these reports were filed almost two years ago, how long are police reports good for-sorry for my ignorance, I'm not sure if they 'expire' or not-what I'm saying how long can she keep them before pressing charges, if she ever does??

Our family isn't worried, she's a habitual lier and drug abuser, and she just uses these police reports to threaten my husband by using his father as a means to hurt him.

But thank you for your reply!

I know I have several questions but I am very inquisitive by nature!

[LawResearcherMissy]

Police reports do not expire. They are a record of a complaint made to the police, nothing more, nothing less.

With respect to a statute of limitations before initiating court action, it depends on the alleged crime and whether or not the prosecutor is willing to proceed.

[BOR]

My question involves defamation in the state of: Arkansas

Is it illegal to scan and post copies of police reports online? My husband's ex wife is accusing my father in law of a horrible offense and has posted the police reports online. My father in law was never arrested or convicted, and she's been spreading this rumor around for almost two years now.

You can consult an attorney to evaluate the facts. Although the non commercial publication of a public record is generally not defamatory "on it's face" is it not an absolute license to mass distribute it and can possibly be deemed a "reckless disregard for the truth" and or "invasion of privacy"?


Since it is an accusation in conjunction with the report with no supporting facts such as an arrest or conviction, it could be reckless to do so.

With or without the report, depending on the exact content of what he has been accused of, it may be defamation in and of itself? This is why an attorney needs to be consulted.

[BOR]

Okay, thanks. Now, is there a certain amount of time when a person files a police report and presses charges? Because these reports were filed almost two years ago, how long are police reports good for-sorry for my ignorance, I'm not sure if they 'expire' or not-what I'm saying how long can she keep them before pressing charges, if she ever does??

Our family isn't worried, she's a habitual lier and drug abuser, and she just uses these police reports to threaten my husband by using his father as a means to hurt him.

But thank you for your reply!

I know I have several questions but I am very inquisitive by nature!

If the report was made 2 years ago, you can bet there was no legal foundation to pursue it, or charges would have been probably brought by now.