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A simple records request at an Oklahoma courthouse has exposed a shocking privacy breach that affects anyone who has been arrested in Woodward County. Court files containing felony cases are being released to the public with Social Security numbers, birthdates, and other sensitive personal information completely visible.
The Discovery That Changes Everything
When a civil rights attorney requested the most recent 10 felony case files at Woodward County Courthouse, he made a disturbing discovery. The first two files he examined contained complete personal information with no redaction whatsoever. Names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, height, weight, and every identifying detail were fully visible to anyone with access to the documents.
The attorney demonstrated the severity of the breach during a livestream, carefully blocking the sensitive information with his fingers while explaining that he could have easily exposed these details to hundreds of viewers online. The implications are staggering: any member of the public can walk into the courthouse and obtain the complete identity profile of recent arrestees.
When Employees Attack the Messenger
Rather than addressing the privacy violation, courthouse employees became increasingly hostile toward the reporter documenting the problem. One female employee slammed a door and began shouting at the attorney, accusing him of being disruptive while he attempted to discuss solutions through the office's glass partition.
The confrontation escalated when the employee interrupted the attorney's calm conversation with another clerk, leading to a heated exchange where she accused him of treating her like a child. The irony was not lost: employees were more upset about being recorded in a public building than they were about exposing citizens' most sensitive personal information.
The Systematic Failure Across Multiple Agencies
This privacy breach represents a multi-agency failure involving the District Attorney's office, Sheriff's Department, and local police departments. All of these agencies file documents with the courthouse, and none appear to be following required redaction procedures before submitting sensitive materials to public files.
The attorney explained that while court clerks are not responsible for initially filing these documents, they have the authority to implement procedures ensuring compliance with privacy laws. Simple solutions exist, such as requiring agencies to properly redact information before filing or posting notices about redaction requirements.
A Real Victim Steps Forward
The investigation took an unexpected turn when a local man approached the reporter outside the courthouse. He confirmed the privacy breach was affecting real people, showing his girlfriend's arrest affidavit where Social Security numbers were visible even through attempted blackout marks.
The man revealed his girlfriend faced a $10,000 bond for charges stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred when the couple was out of town. He expressed frustration that they had discovered the warrant only after the sensitive information had been sitting in public files, accessible to anyone.
The Cover-Up Continues
When the reporter attempted to address the issue with the Sheriff's Department, law enforcement officers refused to provide their names and became defensive about basic transparency requests. The same pattern emerged: officials more concerned about accountability journalism than the actual privacy violations affecting their constituents.
The hostile response from multiple agencies suggests this systematic failure may extend beyond simple negligence into deliberate indifference toward citizens' privacy rights. The question remains whether these agencies will address the underlying problem or continue deflecting blame.
What Happens Next Remains Unclear
The attorney left contact information with courthouse staff and promised to follow up with multiple agencies involved in the filing process. He also offered to help the affected man pursue potential civil damages for the privacy violations.
But the livestream ended with more questions than answers: How many citizens have had their personal information exposed? How long has this been happening? And most importantly, what will these agencies do when confronted with video evidence of their failures?
Watch the full investigation to see exactly how courthouse employees reacted when confronted with evidence of their privacy failures.
