Is this a criminal offence?

Question

If I were a clerical worker in a police station and I gave details of someones criminal past to their neighbors, would I be committing an offence?

Answer 1

Absolutely. you're releasing private information with out the person's consent. you should have had to sign confidentiality agreements when you were hired.

Answer 2

If you are naming names and pointing fingers towards who has done what, yes, you probably are committing an offense. I'm not sure what the exact name is, but releasing confidential, yet accessible information, that raises some serious ethical questions. If you are mistaken in regard to identity, you could be sued by your neighbor for slander/libel.

I thought pedophiles were required to introduce themselves to everyone in the neighborhood? Maybe that varies by state....

What if this neighbor was your son or daughter, would you want someone with access to their records offering this information? What if your doctor started to share your personal info with your neighbors also?

Even if what you are sharing is hard fact, it's still kinda mean spirited and, well, is part of the problem.

Answer 3

This depends on the state in which you perform the act. It is a civil offense and actionable in tort for various causes such as defamation. Also, it does indeed depend on whether or not the information you gave was publically accessible. If you could find it in a newspaper, then it is not likely to be an offense. If however you give information on the record of a minor, those records are sealed, then you do indeed commit an offense.

Answer 4

Only if you had been made to sign the a contract governed by the official secret's act that stipulated that you were not allowed to share sensitive information with the public. Breaking the official secrets act can get you anything from a slap on the wrist to life inmprissonment. If you had not signed such a contract (though such an eventuallity is almost inconceivable) then you could tell you ever liked whatever you liked.

Answer 5

Without a doubt it most certainly would be a criminal offence, I worked with someone who was employed as a records clerk at a hospital and she gave out medical information to someone she knew and was sacked on the spot, it just is not worth the risk to yourself, as tempting as it is to do something like that, it is against the law.

Answer 6

If it is classified information, you would be committing a criminal offense; however, if the information is public record, there is no criminal offense committed. Many public positions such as these do require a confidentiality agreement, and it may be a violation of such agreement and a legitimate reason for termination, though.

Answer 7

It is grossly unethical. It sounds like a breach of confidentially and a criminal offence in itself. I would expect they would throw the book at you. And the book may depend on your terms of employment.

Ask your Trade Union Official for technical legal advice.

This is the English perspective.

Answer 8

If you divulge anything that is stored in confidential records then you would be breaching the Data Protection Act. You would face disciplinary action and prosecution.

I am a retired police officer.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

Yes. Matters not what the offender did. A person's criminal history is NOT public information.

Answer 11

Apart from the fact you'd probably get the sack, I would also HOPE it is a criminal offence. Have you done / are thinking of doing this? Because even if it's not illegal it's highly immoral.