News Summary
The ACLU of Rhode Island has filed a lawsuit against Brown University’s Department of Public Safety, challenging its claim of immunity from public records laws. This legal action highlights concerns about transparency and accountability of law enforcement within private educational institutions. The lawsuit coincides with proposed reforms in the Rhode Island General Assembly regarding access to public records, particularly about police operations at universities. The ACLU seeks to establish that Brown’s police department is subject to public records laws, allowing greater access to arrest information.
Providence, Rhode Island
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Rhode Island has initiated a lawsuit against Brown University’s Department of Public Safety (BDPS), challenging the department’s assertion that it is not subject to the state’s public records laws. Filed on a Monday, the legal action is rooted in issues surrounding public transparency and the accountability of law enforcement agencies operating within private educational institutions.
ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown remarked upon the troubling nature of a police department that keeps arrest records confidential, emphasizing the necessity for public access to such information. The lawsuit emerges during a critical time when the Rhode Island General Assembly is considering reforms to the Access to Public Records Act (APRA). Among the proposed changes is a specific provision stating that the law would apply to the police departments of private educational institutions that employ armed officers.
Former Brown University police officer Michael Greco has testified in support of applying APRA to BDPS. His testimony reveals instances where Brown officers intervened in situations typically managed by the Providence Police, suggesting a blurring of lines between public and private record-keeping. Greco argued that arrest reports generated by Brown’s police should be accessible under APRA, just as they are for municipal police departments throughout the state.
In direct relation to the case, two journalists, Noble Brigham and Michael Bilow, had their requests for arrest reports denied by BDPS. Brigham sought records in 2022 linked to an individual charged multiple times for trespassing and breaking and entering, while Bilow’s 2023 inquiry focused on arrest reports concerning students charged for participating in protests. Both journalists filed complaints with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, which ultimately sided with Brown University.
In a statement regarding the lawsuit, Brown University spokesperson Brian Clark indicated that the university had not received the lawsuit by midday on the day it was filed. He referenced a prior opinion from Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, which confirmed that BDPS does not qualify as a public agency under APRA. Clark further noted that the jurisdiction of BDPS is confined to university property, alongside its cooperative relationship with Providence police. BDPS does provide a daily police log and annual crime statistics as required by the federal Clery Act, demonstrating some level of operational transparency.
The ACLU’s lawsuit poses a clear challenge to the notion that BDPS operates outside the public records law. By enforcing criminal laws, the ACLU argues, BDPS functions similarly to public law enforcement agencies, thus obligating them to comply with APRA regulations. The organization seeks a declaration from the court confirming BDPS’s status as a public body, which would compel the department to provide arrest records and law enforcement documents to the public.
The implications of this lawsuit reach beyond Brown University, touching on systemic issues of transparency and accountability within law enforcement at private institutions. The ACLU and plaintiffs stress that access to police actions and reports is essential for ensuring law enforcement accountability in all communities. They argue that the ongoing practice of withholding arrest records creates a significant barrier to understanding and addressing police operations in private university contexts.
As the situation unfolds, the forthcoming discussions in the Rhode Island General Assembly regarding the reform of public records law could have profound effects on how law enforcement agencies at private institutions manage their records and interact with the public. The ACLU’s efforts, through this lawsuit, aim to enable greater accessibility to law enforcement information, ensuring that all members of the community can remain informed about police activities affecting their safety and rights.
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Additional Resources
- Rhode Island Current: ACLU Lawsuit Against Brown University
- ABC6: ACLU of RI Sues Brown University
- PBN: ACLU Suing Brown University Police
- Boston Globe: ACLU Suits Brown University Police
- Brown Daily Herald: ACLU Files Suit Against Student Visa Revocations
- Wikipedia: Freedom of Information Law
- Google Search: Brown University police arrest records
- Encyclopedia Britannica: American Civil Liberties Union
- Google Scholar: ACLU lawsuit Brown University
- Google News: Brown University police transparency
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
