34121376 (1).pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER: G - 20 GENERAL ORDER RESCINDS: SUBJECT: Media Relations EFFECTIVE: November 14, 1994 REVISED: July 30, 2019 Table of Contents: I. Purpose II. Scope III. Definitions IV. Release of Information (General) V. News Release Guidelines VI. Media Access to Photographs VII. Releasing Names of Persons Killed or Injured VIII. Permitting News Media onto a Scene IX. Training X. Miscellaneous I. PURPOSE: The Sheriff's Office is committed to informing the community and the news media of events within the public domain that are handled by the agency. It is recognized that certain information must be withheld to protect the constitutional rights of victims and the accused and to avoid interfering with an investigation. II. SCOPE: While it is the duty of all personnel to inform the public of events that affect the community, it is recognized that certain procedures must be established to interpret and control confidential information and information that may only be released upon the express authority of the Sheriff. It is Sheriff’s Office policy that the primary responsibility for releasing information to the public and news media is assigned to persons designated as Public Information Officers. Duties of the Public Information Officers include: A. Assist Sheriff's Office personnel in media matters or other public information concerns. B. Assist news personnel in reporting news stories at the scenes of incidents. C. Be available for on-call responses to the news media. D. Prepare and distribute agency news releases. E. Arrange for, and assist at, news conferences. GENERAL ORDER Media Relations GO # 20 PAGE 1 OF 5\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nF. Coordinate and authorize the release of information about victims, witnesses and suspects within the purview of this directive. G. Assist in crisis situations that affect the agency. H. Coordinate and authorize the release of information concerning confidential investigations and operations, within the purview of this directive. I. The release of information at multi-jurisdictional situations where the Sheriff’s Office is part of a contingent of law enforcement and/or public safety agencies shall be handled as follows: 1. At scenes where the Sheriff’s Office is the primary responding agency, all information will be released through the Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer (or through another on-scene employee). 2. At scenes where the Sheriff’s Office is serving in a back-up or assist capacity to another law enforcement or public safety agency, the responsibility for the release of all information to the public and/or media will be that of the primary agency in charge of this situation. 3. During pre-planned mutual aid actions where the Sheriff’s Office is a component of said action, the Public Information Officer should be involved in the planning phases that involve the release of public information. 4. During pre-planned mutual aid efforts where the Sheriff’s Office is the primary agency organizing a response to an event, the Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer will coordinate and control the release of all public information. Representatives from assisting agencies may be utilized at the discretion of the Sheriff, his designee, or the Public Information Officer. 5. Major and/or catastrophic disasters that require the activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Emergency Support Functions (ESF) is addressed in the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). J. Identify appropriate agency initiatives, events and accomplishments to highlight to the media and public. K. Develop and manage content of the Sheriff's Office social media accounts and website. III. DEFINITIONS: A. Public Records: All documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, or other material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business. B. Criminal Intelligence Information: Information relative to an identifiable person or group of persons collected in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor possible criminal activity. Criminal intelligence information shall be considered active as long as it is related to intelligence gathering conducted with a reasonable, good faith belief that it will lead to detection of ongoing or reasonably anticipated criminal activities. C. Criminal Investigative Information: Information relative to an identifiable person compiled in the course of conducting a criminal investigation; including, but not limited to, information derived from laboratory tests, reports of GENERAL ORDER Media Relations GO # 20 PAGE 2 OF 6\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\ndetectives or informants, or any type of surveillance. Criminal investigative information shall be considered active as long as it is related to an ongoing investigation. IV. RELEASE OF INFORMATION (GENERAL): A. News releases pertaining to interpretation of Sheriff's Office policy, disciplinary actions, and projected needs of the Sheriff's Office or budgetary matters will be handled only by the Sheriff, his designee, or the Public Information Officers. 1. A complaint of misconduct filed with the agency against an agency employee and all information obtained pursuant to an investigation by the agency of the complaint of misconduct is confidential and exempt from Florida Statute 119.07(1) and Section 24(a), Article I of the State Constitution until the investigation ceases to be active, or until the agency provides written notice to the employee who is the subject of the complaint, either personally or by mail, that the agency has either: a. Concluded the investigation with a finding not to proceed with disciplinary action or file charges; or b. Concluded the investigation with a finding to proceed with disciplinary action or file charges. 2. Pursuant to Florida Statute 112.533(4), the Sheriff or designee may (at any time) acknowledge the existence of a complaint and the fact that an investigation is underway. B. In the absence of a Public Information Officer, the Watch Commander will assume the responsibility for any release of information to the media. Any release of information will be brought to the attention of a Public Information Officer as soon as possible. C. A supervisor in charge of an incident or situation that could be of interest to the media is responsible for ensuring the Public Information Officer is notified. D. Employees who are directly contacted by reporters/producers/news editors for information, interviews or comment regarding Sheriff’s Office matters are responsible for referring such inquiries promptly to a Public Information Officer. V. NEWS RELEASE GUIDELINES: A. The following information is considered public information and cannot be withheld from the media. 1. The date, time, location, and nature of a crime; 2. The name sex, age and address of a person arrested, 18 years of age or older (except as provided in section B(7) below; 3. The name, sex, age and address of a person arrested under the age of 18 when the crime charged is a felony (except as provided in section B(7) below; 4. The time, date and location of the incident, and of the arrest; 5. The crime charged; and, 6. The name, sex, age, and address of the victim of a crime except as follows below in Paragraph B(1) below: GENERAL ORDER Media Relations GO # 20 PAGE 3 OF 6\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nB. The following information is not considered public information and may be withheld from the media. Any information requests that fall outside of these guidelines should be directed to the Public Information Officer: 1. Any criminal intelligence information of criminal investigative information including the photograph, name, address, or other fact or information which reveals the identity of the victim of the crime of sexual battery as defined in Chapter 794, Florida Statutes, the identity of th