rights to police records

douglasville, ga My husband committed suicide in May of 2000, at the time I did not want to receive the photos taken at the scene just the report, now i have requested the photos to help me with closure of his death. was told by the douglas county sheriffs department they would not give them to me, when i ask why they could not give me an answer. why can't i have the photos of my husband, don't i have a legal right to have them.
thank you
susan blankenship

On a legal note: You can petition the courts to file a motion releasing the photos to you. Consult an attorney for this.

On a moral note: This is just my opinion, but don't you want to remember him in a good way? I personally think that I would've gotten closure at the burial/service, etc. Think it over very hard, because if you do see these photos, they may be much too disturbing for you to handle.

I agree on the moral note especially...

Several years ago, I came across police dept. photos, one case in particular, was of a 28 yr. old that had shot himself in the head, in his parents living room. I half-heartedly chose to review them. To this day, I wish I had not. I had nightmares for some time, eventhough I didn't know this man, or any members of his family.
Suicide is a very brutal death regardless of how it's carried out.
I can't imagine, as his spouse, how you could possibly deal with seeing the photos. I am a very strong person, and to this day, even photos from the morgue are difficult to view.
I would want to remember my spouse as he was alive. It is ultimately your choice to pursue this, however, I caution you to really think this through.