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FBI files
hreaten
privacy
One of the most serious consequences arrested
persons face is the possibility their names will be
placed in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's
criminal files.
The FBI records contain the names of thousands
of arrestees, but fail to say whether they were
found innocent or guilty or were released without
being charged with a crime.
Information on the 20 million persons in the FBI
fingerprint file is available on request to 3,750
local police departments, 1,420 sheriff's offices
and 390 federally insured banks, according to a
recent article in The New Republic.
Once the FBI furnishes its data to local
agencies, it disavows responsibility. The informa
tion ultimately can enter the hands of private
businesses, insurance companies, reporters and
other unauthorized persons.
The FBI reportedly has files on thousands of
cases, and 1.2 billion personal records are stored
in the other 850 .federally operated data banks.
Computerization Is making these records
instantly available to a growing number of people,
yet the FBI insists it has neither the resources nor
the obligation to check out each arrest record it
receives. . . -
Although a statute requires the bureau to cancel
the exchange privileges of local agencies that
provide records to unauthorized users, the FBI has
suspended the borrowing privileges of local police
only six times since 1924.
A Senate subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Sam
Ervin, is considering whether federal data banks
should be limited to distributing only conviction
records to non-law enforcement agencies and
suoplying acquittal records to the police only if
they have rearrested the subject or if his first
prosecution still is pending.
The committee proposes a bill which would
: ot.fiQthorinn anfinCV tO Keep US
records up to date, mandate random audits on
federal and state criminal anu
citizen the right to inspect his file and correct
inaccuracies.
The proposed bill also would oblige any agency
using an arrest record to verify the information s
accuracy and completeness. Such verification
would be automatic with computerized systems.
The proposed bill also would clamp down on
"promiscuous dissemination" by holding the
distributing agency responsible if its data reaches
the wrong hands.
According to FBI Director Clarence M. Kelley,
the subcommittee's proposals would seriously,
hamper law enforcement and would cause crime
rates to soar even higher.
Kelley says the FBI files are being unjustly
"cast in the role of the oppressor menacing
individual liberties."
He contends that law enforcement needs such
data banks "to preserve the individual's right to
remain alive, keep his possessions intact and walk
on a street without fear of harm."
But law enforcement also should seek to
preserve the individual's right to privacy.
Enactment of the bill concerning federal data
banks would help insure this privacy and would
guard Americans against another "fear of
harm" the harm which comes when confident
ial information enters imprudent hands.
Jans Owens
Richard Righteous - "Is there another way?"
Who says American politics will always be
in
Oh, sure, scandals have come and qopo m
this toirntry, but with the trauma of
Watergate, something tells me it's a whole
new ballgame.
New scandals are uncovered almost daily
(milk bribes, Illegal gas price hikes,
espionage in Chile) to keep new corruption in
check. Tax statements and financial records
are probed thoroughly before a man is
approved for office.
By the year 2000, if trends continue, legal
safeguards should exist to stop corruption
before it even makes the ballot at an levels
of government.
Excuse, me, sir. I'd like to run for
Lancaster County weed control agent. ' '
"Weed control, huh? That's an important
job, you know. You realize we have the right
to investigate every last detail about your
life, background and character?. ..Okay,
name?"
"Richard Righteous."
"Are you sure that's your name, Mr.
Righteous?. ..Has it always been, your
name?.,." "t. 4 - .
A few more routine questions, and you're
taken to a dimly-lit room to undergo several
hours of thorough questioning:
nancy sfohs
second thouoros
"Have you ever accepted any bubble gum,
rides, money or other gifts or favors from a
government official?. ..Where were you the
day of the Watergate break-in?" And so on.
Having passed that, you're sent (or
carried) to the records bureau to pick up your
final application forms.
"Okay, Mr. Righteous. We'll just need a
few Jhing? from y9U. Copjes of your back
income tax returns, your birth certificate and
'marriage license, your police record, college
grade transcripts, military service record."
Frantically, you jot everything down.
"Also, a financial statement showing your
total assets, liabilities, and final net worth."
"Anything else?"
"Yes, 31 character references and a
10,000-word essay on 'Why I want to run for
office.' Now, if you'll just fill out forms one
through 64, omiting sections E through J in
form 37. ..and return them to this office by
Friday, we'll begin the investigation to
determine whether you're qualified for the
job."
"I-I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll have to
withdraw. I'm a working man, and I haven't
got time to complete all of this. Isn't there
any other way I could run for office?"
A quick glance around the room, and the
clerk suddenly lowers his voice. "Well, yes.
There is one way... Do you have about $300?"
' V
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IS 3
k. 1. P . I-
page 4
daily nebraskan
Dear Editor,
Please note the Friday,
Sept. 13 Daily Nebraskan
article, "Pizza replaces
kt;y fur 'Yeii Like Heii","
paragraph seven.
Would you please re
fresh my memory on the
law(s) pertaining to:
1. The tampering with
andor removal of United
States mail from United
States Post Office mail
boxes by persons other
than the addressed hold
er. 2. The laws pertaining
to government censorship
of any or all United States
mail.
In addition, I would like
to know where the Univer
sity has its head, when we
have to start saiuting,
whom we salute, how we
salute-three, two or one
finger(s), why the Univer
s;ty is above the law and
what are we going to do
about it.
Ticked Off
thursday, September 19. 1974
