Some things in life are personal, and should remain private. This is a common complaint we hear from celebrities and athletes, but often dismiss their concerns because they have chosen a life in the public eye. Making private information public is dangerous though, as concerns about identity theft are on the rise. When the information you wish to keep to yourself is something you consider embarrassing or potentially harmful to your employment, it is important to know what can and cannot be made visible to just about anyone with internet access.

This summer, Florida may see more than just an influx of tourists. The state may also see its criminal records go live, or at least a portion of them. The issue is concerning because:

● Once live, the documents relating to an arrest will be accessible from any computer with an internet connection.

● The ability to search documents will be done in an anonymous manner, meaning you will never know who is searching your records.

To maintain some privacy, the Courts are limiting access in certain types of case to the requirement of having a court order. There is also a plan to create different levels of access depending on who you are, meaning a Judge would have the most access while a stranger to a case could have less access. Even with these safeguards as proposed, there is still concern among those that wish to keep their private lives to themselves. The key lies in determining if the right to privacy is greater than a public need, and having access to court information without having to go to the Courthouse is a difficult obstacle to overcome. This is especially true in an electronic age, where millions of pieces of information are available at your fingertips and one way to maintain your privacy is by having the records expunged. This is an available remedy in some instances, call us to learn more.

 

For more information about your right to privacy in a criminal case, call our office. Contact us today schedule an appointment with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. The first visit is a free initial consultation.