Table of Contents
Oklahoma County's courthouse has a massive identity theft problem hiding in plain sight. Court clerks are leaving felony case files on public counters with Social Security numbers, birthdates, and home addresses completely unredacted for anyone to access and photograph.
The Discovery at Oklahoma County Courthouse
What started as a routine public records request revealed a shocking security breach. Journalists visiting the Oklahoma County Courthouse requested the last 10 felony cases filed, which clerks promptly placed on a public counter for inspection. Within minutes of reviewing just two files, they discovered complete Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses, and physical descriptions of defendants exposed to public view.
The information was so detailed that anyone walking into the courthouse could easily compile everything needed for identity theft. Height, weight, race, and other identifying details were all readily available alongside the most sensitive personal data.
Court Clerks Refuse to Address the Problem
When the journalists brought this security breach to the attention of court staff, they were met with indifference and deflection. Court employees insisted it wasn't their responsibility to ensure personal information was redacted before filing, despite being the final gatekeepers for all documents entering the public record.
The journalists proposed a simple solution: posting signs at filing desks reminding law enforcement and prosecutors of their legal obligation to redact personal information. Even this minimal safeguard was rejected, with staff claiming it wasn't their problem to solve.
Police Surround the Reporters
The situation escalated when multiple officers surrounded the journalists outside the courthouse. Despite the reporters explaining their legitimate concern about exposed personal information, law enforcement seemed more interested in intimidating them than addressing the security vulnerability they had uncovered.
One of the journalists, an attorney who had his identity stolen while serving in Afghanistan, tried to explain the serious implications of leaving such sensitive data exposed. The personal nature of identity theft and its impact on veterans fell on deaf ears.
Hostile Reception at the District Attorney's Office
Following the court clerks' suggestion to take their concerns directly to the DA's office, the journalists headed to Leadership Square. What happened next revealed the contempt some public officials have for accountability reporting.
After explaining the security breach to DA staff, one employee became visibly agitated and flipped off the journalists. When they attempted to schedule an appointment to discuss the matter properly, they were told they weren't welcome and needed to leave immediately.
The Unresolved Security Crisis
The response from both the court system and the DA's office raises disturbing questions about how seriously Oklahoma County takes protecting citizens' personal information. With identity theft cases rising nationwide, leaving complete Social Security numbers accessible to any courthouse visitor creates unnecessary risk for vulnerable defendants.
Watch the full confrontation to see exactly how Oklahoma County officials responded when caught exposing your personal information to potential identity thieves.
