The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend existing statutes to enhance the privacy protections for victims and witnesses in criminal cases. Under the new provisions, victims would be allowed to request the redaction of their names from public records if law enforcement anticipates that disclosure could lead to harassment, threats to safety, or witness tampering. This redaction would not apply to records shared between law enforcement and prosecution agencies, records concerning deceased victims, or records where the victim has consented to disclosure or a court has ordered it. Additionally, the bill introduces a definition for "final disposition" and makes technical adjustments to the language of the statutes.

For witnesses, the bill similarly allows for the redaction of their names from public records under the same conditions regarding potential harassment or threats. However, the name of a witness may still be disclosed if they consent, if a court orders it, or if there is a notice of final disposition in the case. The bill also updates the definitions of personal identifying information to include email addresses and makes conforming changes to ensure consistency across the statutes. Overall, these updates aim to provide greater protection for individuals involved in the criminal justice process while maintaining necessary legal disclosures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-413, 13-4434, 39-123.01, 8-384, 13-4403, 13-3623, 13-4401, 13-3601