Police, Prosecutors Seek to Limit Access to Police Personnel Files During Trials

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is proposing changes to its directive on disclosing police personnel files following a significant court ruling. The ruling criticized prosecutors for not providing key evidence during a case involving a protester arrested at Portland State University. Currently, PPB’s directive mandates erring on the side of disclosure, but the proposed amendment would limit access to allegations deemed unsubstantiated or non-credible. This shift has raised alarms among legal advocates, as it may undermine defendants' rights to exculpatory evidence. Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez expressed dismay over previous evidence-sharing failures yet supports the proposed changes.

The DA's office argues that the existing policy is misaligned with practices in comparable jurisdictions. Legal experts warn that limiting access to such information could lead to miscarriages of justice. The decision on this directive change will have lasting implications for how evidence is handled in Portland's criminal justice system.