Case Management/Electronic Case Files: Criminal Case Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY FOR THE ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY OF CRIMINAL CASE FILE INFORMATION

Please be informed that documents filed in criminal cases in this court are now available to the public electronically.

You shall not include sensitive information in any document filed with the court. You must remember that any personal information not otherwise protected will be made available over the Internet via PACER. The following personal identifiers must be partially redacted from the document whether it is filed traditionally or electronically:

1. Social Security Numbers to the last four digits;

2. Financial Account Numbers to the last four digits;

3. Names of minor children to the initials;

4. Dates of Birth to the year; and

5. Home addresses to the city and state.

In compliance with the E-Government Act of 2002, a party wishing to file a document containing the personal data identifiers specified above may file an unredacted document under seal. This document shall be retained by the court as part of the record. The court may, however, also require the party to file a redacted copy for the public file.

Because filings will be remotely, electronically available and may contain information implicating not only privacy but also personal security concerns, exercise caution when filing a document that contains any of the following information and consider accompanying any such filing with a motion to seal. Until the court has ruled on any motion to seal, no document that is the subject of a motion to seal, nor the motion or any response thereto, will be available electronically or in paper form.

1. Any personal identifying number, such as driver’s license number;

2. Medical records, treatment and diagnosis;

3. Employment history;

4. Individual financial information;

5. Proprietary or trade secret information;

6. Information regarding and individual’s cooperation with the government;

7. Information regarding the victim of any criminal activity;

8. National security information; and

9. Sensitive security information as described in 49 U.S.C. §114(s).

Counsel is strongly urged to share this notice with all clients so that an informed decision about the inclusion of certain materials may be made. If a redacted document is filed, it is the sole responsibility of counsel and the parties to be sure that all documents and pleadings comply with the rules of this court requiring redaction of personal data identifiers. The Clerk will not review filings for redaction.