Chapter 33 of the Virgin Islands Code contains a provision on the examination of public records. As defined in this provision, "public records" includes all records and documents of or belonging to the Territory or any branch of government in such Territory or any department, board, council, or committee of any branch of government. The provision specifies that every citizen of the Territory has the right to examine all public records and to copy such records. The news media may publish such records unless some other provision of the Code expressly limits this right or requires such records to be kept secret or confidential. Certain confidential records, however, are exempted from examination by the public. These exceptions include personal information on students in school records, medical records of patients or former patients, trade secrets, attorney work products, police investigative reports, criminal identification files, and personal information in confidential personnel records. In accordance with the rules of civil procedure, the district court may grant an injunction that restrains the examination of a specific public record.
Compendium of State Privacy and Security Legislation: 1997 Overview - Virgin Islands
NCJ Number
170081
Date Published
May 1997
Annotation
This is a 1997 overview of Virgin Islands law pertinent to the privacy and security of criminal justice information.
Abstract
Date Published: May 1, 1997