[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 28, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 28CFR50.2]

[Page 34-35]
 
                    TITLE 28--JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
 
              CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Continued)
 
PART 50--STATEMENTS OF POLICY--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 50.2  Release of information by personnel of the Department of Justice relating to criminal and civil proceedings.

    (a) General. (1) The availability to news media of information in 
criminal and civil cases is a matter which has become increasingly a 
subject of concern in the administration of justice. The purpose of this 
statement is to formulate specific guidelines for the release of such 
information by personnel of the Department of Justice.
    (2) While the release of information for the purpose of influencing 
a trial is, of course, always improper, there are valid reasons for 
making available to the public information about the administration of 
the law. The task of striking a fair balance between the protection of 
individuals accused of crime or involved in civil proceedings with the 
Government and public understandings of the problems of controlling 
crime and administering government depends largely on the exercise of 
sound judgment by those responsible for administering the law and by 
representatives of the press and other media.
    (3) Inasmuch as the Department of Justice has generally fulfilled 
its responsibilities with awareness and understanding of the competing 
needs in this area, this statement, to a considerable extent, reflects 
and formalizes the standards to which representatives of the Department 
have adhered in the past. Nonetheless, it will be helpful in ensuring 
uniformity of practice to set forth the following guidelines for all 
personnel of the Department of Justice.
    (4) Because of the difficulty and importance of the questions they 
raise, it is felt that some portions of the matters covered by this 
statement, such as the authorization to make available Federal 
conviction records and a description of items seized at the time of 
arrest, should be the subject of continuing review and consideration by 
the Department on the basis of experience and suggestions from those 
within and outside the Department.
    (b) Guidelines to criminal actions. (1) These guidelines shall apply 
to the release of information to news media from the time a person is 
the subject of a criminal investigation until any proceeding resulting 
from such an investigation has been terminated by trial or otherwise.
    (2) At no time shall personnel of the Department of Justice furnish 
any statement or information for the purpose of influencing the outcome 
of a defendant's trial, nor shall personnel of the Department furnish 
any statement or information, which could reasonably be expected to be 
disseminated by means of public communication, if such a statement or 
information may reasonably be expected to influence the outcome of a 
pending or future trial.
    (3) Personnel of the Department of Justice, subject to specific 
limitations imposed by law or court rule or order, may make public the 
following information:
    (i) The defendant's name, age, residence, employment, marital 
status, and similar background information.
    (ii) The substance or text of the charge, such as a complaint, 
indictment, or information.
    (iii) The identity of the investigating and/or arresting agency and 
the length or scope of an investigation.
    (iv) The circumstances immediately surrounding an arrest, including 
the time and place of arrest, resistance, pursuit, possession and use of 
weapons, and a description of physical items seized at the time of 
arrest.

Disclosures should include only incontrovertible, factual matters, and 
should not include subjective observations. In addition, where 
background information or information relating to the circumstances of 
an arrest or investigation would be highly prejudicial or where the 
release thereof would serve no law enforcement function, such 
information should not be made public.
    (4) Personnel of the Department shall not disseminate any 
information concerning a defendant's prior criminal record.
    (5) Because of the particular danger of prejudice resulting from 
statements in the period approaching and during trial, they ought 
strenuously to be avoided during that period. Any such statement or 
release shall be made only on the infrequent occasion when circumstances 
absolutely demand a

[[Page 35]]

disclosure of information and shall include only information which is 
clearly not prejudicial.
    (6) The release of certain types of information generally tends to 
create dangers of prejudice without serving a significant law 
enforcement function. Therefore, personnel of the Department should 
refrain from making available the following:
    (i) Observations about a defendant's character.
    (ii) Statements, admissions, confessions, or alibis attributable to 
a defendant, or the refusal or failure of the accused to make a 
statement.
    (iii) Reference to investigative procedures such as fingerprints, 
polygraph examinations, ballistic tests, or laboratory tests, or to the 
refusal by the defendant to submit to such tests or examinations.
    (iv) Statements concerning the identity, testimony, or credibility 
of prospective witnesses.
    (v) Statements concerning evidence or argument in the case, whether 
or not it is anticipated that such evidence or argument will be used at 
trial.
    (vi) Any opinion as to the accused's guilt, or the possibility of a 
plea of guilty to the offense charged, or the possibility of a plea to a 
lesser offense.
    (7) Personnel of the Department of Justice should take no action to 
encourage or assist news media in photographing or televising a 
defendant or accused person being held or transported in Federal 
custody. Departmental representatives should not make available 
photographs of a defendant unless a law enforcement function is served 
thereby.
    (8) This statement of policy is not intended to restrict the release 
of information concerning a defendant who is a fugitive from justice.
    (9) Since the purpose of this statement is to set forth generally 
applicable guidelines, there will, of course, be situations in which it 
will limit the release of information which would not be prejudicial 
under the particular circumstances. If a representative of the 
Department believes that in the interest of the fair administration of 
justice and the law enforcement process information beyond these 
guidelines should be released, in a particular case, he shall request 
the permission of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General to 
do so.
    (c) Guidelines to civil actions. Personnel of the Department of 
Justice associated with a civil action shall not during its 
investigation or litigation make or participate in making an 
extrajudicial statement, other than a quotation from or reference to 
public records, which a reasonable person would expect to be 
disseminated by means of public communication if there is a reasonable 
likelihood that such dissemination will interfere with a fair trial and 
which relates to:
    (1) Evidence regarding the occurrence or transaction involved.
    (2) The character, credibility, or criminal records of a party, 
witness, or prospective witness.
    (3) The performance or results of any examinations or tests or the 
refusal or failure of a party to submit to such.
    (4) An opinion as to the merits of the claims or defenses of a 
party, except as required by law or administrative rule.
    (5) Any other matter reasonably likely to interfere with a fair 
trial of the action.

[Order No. 469-71, 36 FR 21028, Nov. 3, 1971, as amended by Order No. 
602-75, 40 FR 22119, May 20, 1975]