GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: SUPPORT SERVICES
TITLE: PROTECTED INFORMATION
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
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PROTECTED INFORMATION
805.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the access, transmission, release and security of protected information by members of the Lincoln Police Department. This policy addresses the protected information that is used in the day-to-day operation of the Department and not the public records information covered in the Records Maintenance and Release Policy.
805.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
PROTECTED INFORMATION - Any information or data that is collected, stored or accessed by members of the Lincoln Police Department and is subject to any access or release restrictions imposed by law, regulation, order or use agreement. This includes all information contained in federal, state or local law enforcement databases that is not accessible to the public.
805.2 POLICY
Members of the Lincoln Police Department will adhere to all applicable laws, orders, regulations, use agreements and training related to the access, use, dissemination and release of protected information.
805.3 RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chief of Police shall select a member or members of the Department to coordinate the use of protected information. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
(a) Ensuring member compliance with this policy and with requirements applicable to protected information, including requirements for the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system, National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS), Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Services (ALEA) records, the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) and the Alabama Law Enforcement Tactical System (LETS).
(b) Developing, disseminating and maintaining procedures that adopt or comply with the U.S. Department of Justice's current Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy.
(c) Developing, disseminating and maintaining any other procedures necessary to comply with any other requirements for the access, use, dissemination, release and security of protected information.
(d) Developing procedures to ensure training and certification requirements are met.
(e) Resolving specific questions that arise regarding authorized recipients of protected information.
(f) Ensuring security practices and procedures are in place to comply with requirements applicable to protected information.
805.4 ACCESS TO PROTECTED INFORMATION
Protected information shall not be accessed in violation of any law, order, regulation, user agreement, Lincoln Police Department policy or training. Only those members who have completed applicable training and met any applicable requirements, such as a background check, may access protected information, and only when the member has a legitimate work-related reason for such access.
Unauthorized access, including access for other than a legitimate work-related purpose, is prohibited and may subject a member to administrative action pursuant to the Personnel Complaints Policy and/or criminal prosecution.
805.5 RELEASE OR DISSEMINATION OF PROTECTED INFORMATION
Protected information may be released only to authorized recipients who have both a right to know and a need to know.
A member who is asked to release protected information that should not be released should refer the requesting person to a supervisor or to the Central Records Clerk for information regarding a formal request.
Unless otherwise ordered or when an investigation would be jeopardized, protected information maintained by the Department may generally be shared with authorized persons from other law enforcement agencies who are assisting in the investigation or conducting a related investigation. Any such information should be released through the Office of Professional Services to ensure proper documentation of the release (see the Records Maintenance and Release Policy).
Protected information, such as Criminal Justice Information (CJI), which includes Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), should generally not be transmitted by radio, cellular telephone or any other type of wireless transmission to members in the field or in vehicles through any computer or electronic device, except in cases where there is an immediate need for the information to further an investigation or where circumstances reasonably indicate that the immediate safety of officers, other department members or the public is at risk.
Nothing in this policy is intended to prohibit broadcasting warrant information.
805.6 SECURITY OF PROTECTED INFORMATION
The Chief of Police will select a member or members of the Department to oversee the security of protected information. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
(a) Developing and maintaining security practices, procedures and training.
(b) Ensuring federal and state compliance with the CJIS Security Policy and the requirements of any state or local criminal history records systems.
(c) Establishing procedures to provide for the preparation, prevention, detection, analysis and containment of security incidents including computer attacks.
(d) Tracking, documenting and reporting all breach of security incidents to the Chief of Police and appropriate authorities.
805.6.1 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
Members accessing or receiving protected information shall ensure the information is not accessed or received by persons who are not authorized to access or receive it. This includes leaving protected information, such as documents or computer databases, accessible to others when it is reasonably foreseeable that unauthorized access may occur (e.g., on an unattended table or desk, in or on an unattended vehicle, in an unlocked desk drawer or file cabinet, on an unattended computer terminal).
805.7 TRAINING
All members authorized to access or release protected information shall complete a training program that complies with any protected information system requirements and identifies authorized access and use of protected information, as well as its proper handling and dissemination.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
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