Where do you go for access to the criminal depositions?
A copy of all criminal depositions entered into the court files are public record. In Florida (I
would assume other states, too, but I’d have to check on that) these depositions can read
in the courthouse where the case is expected to go to trial. You do have to sign for them,
which is no big deal. (You cannot go into the State Attorney’s Office or the Office of the
Public Defender or a private attorney’s office and demand reading any of their files,
however.)
Criminal depositions are usually kept in the Circuit Clerk’s Office at the County
Courthouse. Go to the clerk’s office, ask the information person how you many get you the
files. There might be a computer that contains court file information. If so, you will need to
type in the case or file number. You do this by typing in the name of the defendant/or
convict, which ever he/she is at that time. After you get the case number, give it to the
person in charge in the clerk’s office. Usually the deputy clerk will ask “whose deposition
you want?” And if you are like me, you will say “all of them.” If I’m going for a second
reading, I’ll know by then exactly whose deposition I need to go over. The important one to
read first is that of the lead investigator (detective), which will familiarize you with all the
characters: who they are and what part they play in the case. Of course all the time you
are reading you are writing and noting names of the other depositions you want to read.
So if you don’t want to annoy the deputy clerk by asking for “all,” and having a couple
grocery carts filled with depositions pushed out to you, you may start by asking for the lead
detective’s deposition. In this event, it would be a good idea to know the cop’s name prior
to asking for a deposition. Find this out by calling the Sheriff’s Office, or the Police Station,
or a newspaper reporter who has covered the case. If you want the story you’ll get it.
Is there a library in the clerk’s office where you can sit and read or do they make
you sit on a bench?
A library for us story seekers—please come back to earth, Sparky. If you are lucky, and if
you become liked in the clerk’s Office (which I am usually respected by clerk’s people,
lawyers, judges, and cops) you have gone in with a smile on your face and a good attitude
and you haven’t pissed anybody off too much, a deputy clerk will let you into the office and
offer you a nice chair at a table. Remember, after they give you the depositions, you
should not bother them with questions or asking them to do anything more for you. This
way, they won’t mind when they see you enter the building. I’ve often been given my own
little room, or a nice table, when studying cases in Brooksville (Hernando County, Florida),
where I researched for most of the cases I wrote about for the detective magazines.
In Citrus County I had to read standing in the area in front of the clerk’s counter where it is
busy and distracting (in the 1090s). In Pinellas County in downtown St. Petersburg,
Florida, I was taken to a sitting area where “twenty million and one” (it seemed) reporters
were reading. There were two courthouses in Pasco County, one in Dade City and one in
New Port Richey. There is a little room just off the entrance to the clerk’s office in Dade
City with a long bench and table where reporters can read depositions; but when reading
in New Port Richey, I’ve had to stand. It just depends on the courthouse and the
employees. They can’t keep you from reading depositions, but they don’t have to make
you comfortable.
I remember a time, when researching the Oscar Ray Bolin files (included in my true crime
book “Murders In The Swampland”). The file had been in Dade City and moved to New
Port Richey. I went in to read in New Port Richey and a young man in the annex building
where the court files were stored said the depositions were not available. I explained that I
knew the law and upon my asking I should be able to read the file. He said, “Yes, but this is
one of those gray areas.” I pulled out my reporter’s notepad and pen and positioned
myself for taking notes. I said, “Well, let’s talk about this gray area.” He excused himself to
make some phone calls, then came back with an address in the same government
complex, which was the office of a private attorney. It appeared the attorney had taken the
file out of the building where they were store. When I drove through the complex and found
the attorney’s office, the whole file was on a desk waiting for me. (I think the attorney had
been appointed to review the case, or something, I really don’t know and I really don’t know
if an attorney can take the file our of the clerk’s possession. And I don’t really care as long
as I don’t have to go without the information.)
Is every state the same?
I don’t know. I doubt it.
In Florida, plea bargain files, confessions and court records are part of the court
documents with copies of all included in the complete bundle with the depositions. The
initial cop reports (stuff before the case goes to the State Attorney’s Office) are kept at the
Sheriff’s Office or Police Station. This, too, is public record but sometime cops don’t like to
admit it. For the initial cop stuff, call the sheriff or police’s Public Information Officer (PIO).
They may ask you why you want to read. Some may even insist on you providing them with
the initial cop file number—which could leave you up the creek with no paddle. I’m sure all
PIO’s are different and most like a good standing with reporters. I’d rather go straight to
the courthouse for my information. And it doesn’t cost anything to read. I’ve had to pay $1
for a mug shot from the cops or sheriffs, but sometimes they gave them to me without any
charge. So, it just depends.
Tell me about your true crime book: the work involved, how many publishers did
you have to submit it to, and did you have to re-write it at any time?
The book was easy to put together. I just went through the file of murder stories I had
written and picked out the ones I wanted in a special collection. At the time I was writing
detective stories, a friend said I should put a collection together. Incidentally, my daughter
suggested I write the detective stories in the first place after seeing how involved I got
covering crime and the courts in Brooksville, Florida, for the Daily Sun-Journal. She
brought a magazine home and said, “Mom, you could do this.” I looked it over and typed
up a story. I sent it to Globe. The editor sent it back along with a note giving direction and
a set of writer’s guidelines. I rewrote the story following the guidelines and sent the story
back. Within the month, I got a nice check. I knew then this new kind-of writing was a
winner for me.
After that, I continued writing for Globe until I sent a query for a story and got a note back
saying “no thanks.” I sent the same query then to RHG and got back an “OK.” RHG paid
quite a bit more money than Globe, so I stayed with that company until it shut down. I then
started back writing for Globe.
Putting the book (containing 17 cases and three groups of cop logs) was easy since I
already had the stories.
Have you ever had ill feelings about a story?
This was a while ago, something I didn’t get too involved with. But the best I can recall right
now was that a woman had started a head-injury club after her boyfriend fell, hurt his head
and became somewhat retarded. She was speaking as if she were an expert on head
injury. I then interviewed a doctor who said the woman was trying to do good but she wasn’
t a doctor. So I didn’t feel the story had merit. Can’t remember lots about it since I
abandoned the project. Just wasn’t to my liking.
You once said something about an editor expecting you to write a story exactly
the same why she had already written it in her head. I found the statement
amusing because of the short-minded perspective that some people have
concerning their pre-conceived ideals and thoughts.
Yes. I actually felt like telling her to write the story herself. But I knew that would get me
canned. So I just tried to please her. Usually I did please my editors, but not always.
Understand, this happening was with a newspaper, not a magazine.
Do you, or have you found that you needed to re-interview? And is it difficult
doing that?
No. I never want to re-interview for a story—once is enough. Often I start writing my story
and end up needing more information. Not a problem, though. I just pick up the phone. On
most occasions, people you are quoting are always willing to talk and answer more
questions.
When doing any kind of story, your source will certainly want you to quote correctly.
Different beats require different knowledge. For example, government writing: When I first
started covering the city of Dunedin, Florida, for the Suncoast News, although I had
covered city meetings for both the Daily Journal, Kankakee, Ilinois, and the Daily Sun
Journal, Brooksville, Florida, I found I needed much more information from city employees
in Dunedin that came out of the City Commission meetings, so I started hanging around
City Hall a lot and talking with folks. One of the big issues there in the early 90s was water.
The water and pipes were horrid. At the time I started covering the city, in 1990, city
commissioners had on the drawing board the proposal of a Reverse Osmis Water Plant
and new piping to homes that would (combined with cost of the new wastewater treatment
plant) cost $26-million. The proposed plant would convert 10 percent of the city’s water
supply from brackish to potable water with capably of treating more brackish and seawater
with add-ons. At the time, I knew little about potable water and nothing about brackish or
seawater. The public works director, Bob Brotherton, in Dunedin was wonderfully helpful. I
was a regular in his office; he pointed out every detail about the proposed project. By the
time the plan was approved I felt almost like an expert on water and it became my favorite
by-line topic. Bob Brotherton was definitely an expert, not only on water but power, roads,
and what-have-you. Once, when he was proposing the city start its own power plant (which
they didn’t do), he brought me into his office and actually explained the “grid” by drawing
power lines and displaying the whole grid and the way power goes from here to there and
the way his proposal would save the city millions of dollars in the future. He, like all other
sources, wanted my stories to be correct and presented in layman terms so that all my
readers would understand what he was saying. He never put me off when it came to
getting information, never failed to return a phone call, and always offered names & great
sources to contact for various stories I needed. Now this is the kind of person every news
reporter needs! During some the 10 years I worked for the Suncoast News, I also wrote for
“Vocational Biographies” (A book published seven times per year in Minnesota. Bob
Brotherton was my first subject for a VB story.
Now, when it comes to elected officials you just never know what they are doing. Some will
put you off, especially when their head is on the block for some reason or another. Most
politicians, however, like to talk and will call you up for every little thing.
I could go on and on here, but…
When writing non-fiction, regardless of the beat, getting the facts correct are most
important.
A copy of all criminal depositions entered into the court files are public record. In Florida (I
would assume other states, too, but I’d have to check on that) these depositions can read
in the courthouse where the case is expected to go to trial. You do have to sign for them,
which is no big deal. (You cannot go into the State Attorney’s Office or the Office of the
Public Defender or a private attorney’s office and demand reading any of their files,
however.)
Criminal depositions are usually kept in the Circuit Clerk’s Office at the County
Courthouse. Go to the clerk’s office, ask the information person how you many get you the
files. There might be a computer that contains court file information. If so, you will need to
type in the case or file number. You do this by typing in the name of the defendant/or
convict, which ever he/she is at that time. After you get the case number, give it to the
person in charge in the clerk’s office. Usually the deputy clerk will ask “whose deposition
you want?” And if you are like me, you will say “all of them.” If I’m going for a second
reading, I’ll know by then exactly whose deposition I need to go over. The important one to
read first is that of the lead investigator (detective), which will familiarize you with all the
characters: who they are and what part they play in the case. Of course all the time you
are reading you are writing and noting names of the other depositions you want to read.
So if you don’t want to annoy the deputy clerk by asking for “all,” and having a couple
grocery carts filled with depositions pushed out to you, you may start by asking for the lead
detective’s deposition. In this event, it would be a good idea to know the cop’s name prior
to asking for a deposition. Find this out by calling the Sheriff’s Office, or the Police Station,
or a newspaper reporter who has covered the case. If you want the story you’ll get it.
Is there a library in the clerk’s office where you can sit and read or do they make
you sit on a bench?
A library for us story seekers—please come back to earth, Sparky. If you are lucky, and if
you become liked in the clerk’s Office (which I am usually respected by clerk’s people,
lawyers, judges, and cops) you have gone in with a smile on your face and a good attitude
and you haven’t pissed anybody off too much, a deputy clerk will let you into the office and
offer you a nice chair at a table. Remember, after they give you the depositions, you
should not bother them with questions or asking them to do anything more for you. This
way, they won’t mind when they see you enter the building. I’ve often been given my own
little room, or a nice table, when studying cases in Brooksville (Hernando County, Florida),
where I researched for most of the cases I wrote about for the detective magazines.
In Citrus County I had to read standing in the area in front of the clerk’s counter where it is
busy and distracting (in the 1090s). In Pinellas County in downtown St. Petersburg,
Florida, I was taken to a sitting area where “twenty million and one” (it seemed) reporters
were reading. There were two courthouses in Pasco County, one in Dade City and one in
New Port Richey. There is a little room just off the entrance to the clerk’s office in Dade
City with a long bench and table where reporters can read depositions; but when reading
in New Port Richey, I’ve had to stand. It just depends on the courthouse and the
employees. They can’t keep you from reading depositions, but they don’t have to make
you comfortable.
I remember a time, when researching the Oscar Ray Bolin files (included in my true crime
book “Murders In The Swampland”). The file had been in Dade City and moved to New
Port Richey. I went in to read in New Port Richey and a young man in the annex building
where the court files were stored said the depositions were not available. I explained that I
knew the law and upon my asking I should be able to read the file. He said, “Yes, but this is
one of those gray areas.” I pulled out my reporter’s notepad and pen and positioned
myself for taking notes. I said, “Well, let’s talk about this gray area.” He excused himself to
make some phone calls, then came back with an address in the same government
complex, which was the office of a private attorney. It appeared the attorney had taken the
file out of the building where they were store. When I drove through the complex and found
the attorney’s office, the whole file was on a desk waiting for me. (I think the attorney had
been appointed to review the case, or something, I really don’t know and I really don’t know
if an attorney can take the file our of the clerk’s possession. And I don’t really care as long
as I don’t have to go without the information.)
Is every state the same?
I don’t know. I doubt it.
In Florida, plea bargain files, confessions and court records are part of the court
documents with copies of all included in the complete bundle with the depositions. The
initial cop reports (stuff before the case goes to the State Attorney’s Office) are kept at the
Sheriff’s Office or Police Station. This, too, is public record but sometime cops don’t like to
admit it. For the initial cop stuff, call the sheriff or police’s Public Information Officer (PIO).
They may ask you why you want to read. Some may even insist on you providing them with
the initial cop file number—which could leave you up the creek with no paddle. I’m sure all
PIO’s are different and most like a good standing with reporters. I’d rather go straight to
the courthouse for my information. And it doesn’t cost anything to read. I’ve had to pay $1
for a mug shot from the cops or sheriffs, but sometimes they gave them to me without any
charge. So, it just depends.
Tell me about your true crime book: the work involved, how many publishers did
you have to submit it to, and did you have to re-write it at any time?
The book was easy to put together. I just went through the file of murder stories I had
written and picked out the ones I wanted in a special collection. At the time I was writing
detective stories, a friend said I should put a collection together. Incidentally, my daughter
suggested I write the detective stories in the first place after seeing how involved I got
covering crime and the courts in Brooksville, Florida, for the Daily Sun-Journal. She
brought a magazine home and said, “Mom, you could do this.” I looked it over and typed
up a story. I sent it to Globe. The editor sent it back along with a note giving direction and
a set of writer’s guidelines. I rewrote the story following the guidelines and sent the story
back. Within the month, I got a nice check. I knew then this new kind-of writing was a
winner for me.
After that, I continued writing for Globe until I sent a query for a story and got a note back
saying “no thanks.” I sent the same query then to RHG and got back an “OK.” RHG paid
quite a bit more money than Globe, so I stayed with that company until it shut down. I then
started back writing for Globe.
Putting the book (containing 17 cases and three groups of cop logs) was easy since I
already had the stories.
Have you ever had ill feelings about a story?
This was a while ago, something I didn’t get too involved with. But the best I can recall right
now was that a woman had started a head-injury club after her boyfriend fell, hurt his head
and became somewhat retarded. She was speaking as if she were an expert on head
injury. I then interviewed a doctor who said the woman was trying to do good but she wasn’
t a doctor. So I didn’t feel the story had merit. Can’t remember lots about it since I
abandoned the project. Just wasn’t to my liking.
You once said something about an editor expecting you to write a story exactly
the same why she had already written it in her head. I found the statement
amusing because of the short-minded perspective that some people have
concerning their pre-conceived ideals and thoughts.
Yes. I actually felt like telling her to write the story herself. But I knew that would get me
canned. So I just tried to please her. Usually I did please my editors, but not always.
Understand, this happening was with a newspaper, not a magazine.
Do you, or have you found that you needed to re-interview? And is it difficult
doing that?
No. I never want to re-interview for a story—once is enough. Often I start writing my story
and end up needing more information. Not a problem, though. I just pick up the phone. On
most occasions, people you are quoting are always willing to talk and answer more
questions.
When doing any kind of story, your source will certainly want you to quote correctly.
Different beats require different knowledge. For example, government writing: When I first
started covering the city of Dunedin, Florida, for the Suncoast News, although I had
covered city meetings for both the Daily Journal, Kankakee, Ilinois, and the Daily Sun
Journal, Brooksville, Florida, I found I needed much more information from city employees
in Dunedin that came out of the City Commission meetings, so I started hanging around
City Hall a lot and talking with folks. One of the big issues there in the early 90s was water.
The water and pipes were horrid. At the time I started covering the city, in 1990, city
commissioners had on the drawing board the proposal of a Reverse Osmis Water Plant
and new piping to homes that would (combined with cost of the new wastewater treatment
plant) cost $26-million. The proposed plant would convert 10 percent of the city’s water
supply from brackish to potable water with capably of treating more brackish and seawater
with add-ons. At the time, I knew little about potable water and nothing about brackish or
seawater. The public works director, Bob Brotherton, in Dunedin was wonderfully helpful. I
was a regular in his office; he pointed out every detail about the proposed project. By the
time the plan was approved I felt almost like an expert on water and it became my favorite
by-line topic. Bob Brotherton was definitely an expert, not only on water but power, roads,
and what-have-you. Once, when he was proposing the city start its own power plant (which
they didn’t do), he brought me into his office and actually explained the “grid” by drawing
power lines and displaying the whole grid and the way power goes from here to there and
the way his proposal would save the city millions of dollars in the future. He, like all other
sources, wanted my stories to be correct and presented in layman terms so that all my
readers would understand what he was saying. He never put me off when it came to
getting information, never failed to return a phone call, and always offered names & great
sources to contact for various stories I needed. Now this is the kind of person every news
reporter needs! During some the 10 years I worked for the Suncoast News, I also wrote for
“Vocational Biographies” (A book published seven times per year in Minnesota. Bob
Brotherton was my first subject for a VB story.
Now, when it comes to elected officials you just never know what they are doing. Some will
put you off, especially when their head is on the block for some reason or another. Most
politicians, however, like to talk and will call you up for every little thing.
I could go on and on here, but…
When writing non-fiction, regardless of the beat, getting the facts correct are most
important.
| Crime Beat Frequently Asked Questions Patricia Lieb |
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Murders In
The
Swampland
at Florida
Crime
The
Swampland
at Florida
Crime
