POLICE MALPRACTICE please help?

[krunkchris]

Florida
When I was 17, I was arrested for felony possession of marijuana, and the next morning when I attended school a police officer (or some type of city employee) had given the entire police report (releasing my name as well) to the principal at my private high school. Upon my school receiving this report I was expelled from the private high school. Is this legal? As a minor I always thought that arrest reports and specifically NAMES were not allowed to be released or published to anyone, let alone given a complete copy of the police report in person. Can anyone please give me any type of advice or opinions on what is legal and illegal in this situation. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced. -Chris

 

[cbg]

You are mistaken.

Police reports are public record. While as a matter of courtesy the names of minors are often not released, there is no law prohibiting it.

 

[justalayman]

As a minor I always thought that arrest reports and specifically NAMES were not allowed to be released or published to anyone, let alone given a complete copy of the police report in person

to anyone?

I won't swear this is all inclusive but based on this:

My Florida Sunshine - C. The Public Records Act

Unless the crime involves something a sexual nature involving a minor, all criminal records are public.

 

[HighwayMan]

When I was 17...

How old are you now?

 

[krunkchris]

I am 22 years old now, The incident happened in May of 2005, and my birthdate is 4/6/88. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, -Chris

 

[Zigner]

I am 22 years old now, The incident happened in May of 2005, and my birthdate is 4/6/88. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, -Chris

Even IF you had a "case" (which you don't), what would you hope to gain?

 

[krunkchris]

I would hope to gain assurance that the city or the school would not put another student/child through what I went through. This incident has mentally, emotionally, and physically hurt me. I was kicked out of my high school the last week of my junior year, meaning I had to attend another school for my senior year in which I had zero friends, it was a public school in which I got picked upon, I was banned from hanging out with multiple of my old friends (because their parents knew about the incident), It made my college application process significantly more difficult, and I believe that it will also affect my future career, as I am tarnished with this incident forever. I guess it is different because it seems that I do not have a case, but I would not want anyone else to have to go through what I did, in the event that it was unlawful.

 

[Zigner]

I would hope to gain assurance that the city or the school would not put another student/child through what I went through. This incident has mentally, emotionally, and physically hurt me. I was kicked out of my high school the last week of my junior year, meaning I had to attend another school for my senior year in which I had zero friends, it was a public school in which I got picked upon, I was banned from hanging out with multiple of my old friends (because their parents knew about the incident), It made my college application process significantly more difficult, and I believe that it will also affect my future career, as I am tarnished with this incident forever. I guess it is different because it seems that I do not have a case, but I would not want anyone else to have to go through what I did, in the event that it was unlawful.

Then you didn't learn a THING. The direct cause of all of this was your actions. What followed were logical and foreseeable consequences.

 

[krunkchris]

I did learn from this whole experience. You have never made a mistake that you regretted in your lifetime? Not everyone is perfect throughout their life, I made a mistake years ago, Ive learned from the experience, and I will have to deal with the consequences. I just always thought the way in which it was handled by the police department was unethical and illegal, so I came on hear to find out the correct laws.

 

[cbg]

And even if you did have a claim, which you do not because NO LAWS were violated no matter what you have "heard", this happened five years ago. I don't know what the SOL in your state is, offhand, but I'd say it's at least even money that it's already passed.

 

[Zigner]

I did learn from this whole experience. You have never made a mistake that you regretted in your lifetime? Not everyone is perfect throughout their life, I made a mistake years ago, Ive learned from the experience, and I will have to deal with the consequences. I just always thought the way in which it was handled by the police department was unethical and illegal, so I came on hear to find out the correct laws.

You thought wrong. Good day.

 

[CdwJava]

Depending on the nature of the allegation, the school may well have been authorized to receive the information from the report. In my state schools do not necessarily get these automatically, but in many cases we ARE permitted to release this info to the schools.

 

[HighwayMan]

Since you were arrested on a felony drug charge the police probably felt it was their lawful duty to warn your school since there was a strong potential there to bring harm to other students. I don't think there was anything unreasonable about their actions.

If you think this will affect you for the rest of your life it's not the fault of the police telling your principal. It's the fact that you were arrested, period.

 

[Antigone*]

I did learn from this whole experience. You have never made a mistake that you regretted in your lifetime? Not everyone is perfect throughout their life, I made a mistake years ago, Ive learned from the experience, and I will have to deal with the consequences. I just always thought the way in which it was handled by the police department was unethical and illegal, so I came on hear to find out the correct laws.

Well, seeing as this happened 5 years ago, take what you have learned, file it and get on with your life.

 

[bevybelle]

Wow!!!

Then you didn't learn a THING. The direct cause of all of this was your actions. What followed were logical and foreseeable consequences.

I did not realize one is not permitted to make a mistake in one's life. I hope to God you never seek forgiveness from a mistake. Certainly it was his actions...but for you to comment so harshly is inexcusable. You should remember this..."There by the grace of God go I".