My research is yielding conflicting information on this. Here's the situation:
My female character is shot by a man. While detectives are investigating, she tells them that the man who shot her is also the man who molested her when she was a minor. The molestation wasn't reported previously. She's a celebrity. The shooting took place in New York City, present day; the molestation took place in Rhode Island, several years ago, and the statute of limitations has expired.
Would the news the next morning carry the story, including that during the investigation, she told police that he molested her when she was a minor? That's the question I'm trying to answer, but there seem to be several factors to consider, such as: Are police reports considered public information? If so, how soon in an investigation does information become public (e.g., immediately after the report is filed)? What about it being a sex crime? (I wonder if there is privacy protection for victims of this type of crime.) What if the victim was a minor at the time of the crime? (Again, the privacy for the victim issue.) What if the victim is now a celebrity/was not a celebrity when the crime occurred when she was a minor? (Not sure if celebrity status would play any role here, although I understand that it does in civil cases of slander and libel.)
Thank you for any help on this.
Amy
My female character is shot by a man. While detectives are investigating, she tells them that the man who shot her is also the man who molested her when she was a minor. The molestation wasn't reported previously. She's a celebrity. The shooting took place in New York City, present day; the molestation took place in Rhode Island, several years ago, and the statute of limitations has expired.
Would the news the next morning carry the story, including that during the investigation, she told police that he molested her when she was a minor? That's the question I'm trying to answer, but there seem to be several factors to consider, such as: Are police reports considered public information? If so, how soon in an investigation does information become public (e.g., immediately after the report is filed)? What about it being a sex crime? (I wonder if there is privacy protection for victims of this type of crime.) What if the victim was a minor at the time of the crime? (Again, the privacy for the victim issue.) What if the victim is now a celebrity/was not a celebrity when the crime occurred when she was a minor? (Not sure if celebrity status would play any role here, although I understand that it does in civil cases of slander and libel.)
Thank you for any help on this.
Amy
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