The story is in
the record.
We research criminal cases through court files and records released by public agencies, and turn them into documentary storytelling that is accurate, complete and fair.
Primary sources first.
Everything else second.
Every project starts with the official record: what the court found, what investigators documented, and what the agency has made public.
Court records
Opinions, charging documents, trial records and appellate decisions establish the facts of each case.
Interview recordings
As released by the investigating agency.
Body-worn camera
Footage from the response, in the form the agency released it.
911 audio
Emergency calls and dispatch recordings that put events in order.
The law decides what is public.
We follow it.
We request records under each state's public records law and respect every exemption an agency applies, including those that protect active investigations and prosecutions.
From case file to finished story.
Select
We identify cases with a documented public record.
Research
We build the timeline from court records and published decisions.
Request
We file written requests under the state's public records law.
Produce
We edit the released material into a clear, accurate account.
Clear requests. Simple to process.
Our requests are made under the public records law of each state, such as the Texas Public Information Act, the Ohio Public Records Act, Florida's Chapter 119 and the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
How we handle real cases.
The record decides.
Facts come from the official record. Where sources disagree, we say so.
Respect for victims.
Victims and their families are treated with respect. We do not sensationalize their deaths.
Lawful material only.
We do not publish material an agency withheld or that was obtained outside lawful channels.
Corrections.
Errors brought to our attention are reviewed and corrected.
Get in touch.
Records custodians, clerks and agency counsel can reach us directly. We answer every message.
mediarequests@monforgecollective.com