Redaction is the process of removing or obscuring confidential information from video, audio images and documents before making it public. In Missouri, the law requires redaction for any document filed in any court unless otherwise ordered by the court. The responsibility for redacting confidential information rests solely with the counsel, party, or other person filing the document.
Suppose you are involved in a legal case in Missouri. In that case, you may need to file documents that contain confidential information, such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, or medical records. However, you cannot simply submit these documents to the court without redacting the confidential information first.
Redacting documents manually can be time-consuming, tedious, and prone to errors. That's why VIDIZMO offers a powerful and easy-to-use redaction tool to help you redact documents automatically and accurately.
In this blog post, we are going to explore the recent changes in Missouri redaction rules with respect to remote public access and understand how VIDIZMO’s Redactor plays a key role in enhancing the privacy of confidential information.
Overview Of Rules for Redacting Documents
Changes in Missouri Redaction Rules
The changes to the rules and statutes aim to enhance the privacy and security of individuals and entities involved in civil litigation and appeals. They include Court Operating Rule 2.02, Missouri Rule of Civil Procedure 55.025 (civil litigation), and Missouri Rule of Civil Procedure 84.015 (appeals).
All these rules took effect on July 1, 2023, for the Missouri Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, but they have different implementation dates for the county Circuit Courts, ranging from July 1 to August 31, 2023. Therefore, it is important to check the local rules of each Circuit Court before filing any documents.
The rules require filers to redact or omit certain types of sensitive information from materials filed with the Courts unless they are authorized by law or court order to disclose them. The types of information that must be redacted or omitted are:
- Social security numbers, driver's license numbers, state identification numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, and passport numbers
- Financial institution account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, personal identification numbers, or passwords used to secure any such accounts or cards
- Names, addresses, and contact information of informants, victims, witnesses, and persons protected under orders of protection or restraining orders
- Dates of birth
- Names of individuals known to be minors
- Case numbers of confidential, expunged, or sealed records.
In addition, filers should exercise caution when filing documents that include medical records, employment history, financial records, proprietary information, or trade secrets. This type of information may also be subject to redaction or omission under other laws or court orders.
Enabled Public Access
Court Operating Rule 2.02 has been updated to improve the public's access to court documents. Unless a document is sealed or restricted by law or order, anyone can now view its content online.
This also means that lawyers and parties must be more careful when filing documents that contain confidential information. They must redact the information in a way that shows it has been removed, and they must certify that they have followed the rules for redaction rules (understand the hidden risks of ignoring redaction).
They also must file a separate form that either attaches the unredacted document or lists the information that has been redacted and where it is in the document.
These changes are meant to balance the public's right to know with the parties' privacy and the judicial process's integrity. Lawyers and parties should familiarize themselves with the new rules and forms before filing any documents with the court.
The Need for Redaction Tool
Redaction is not always a simple task. Manual redaction, which involves using a marker or a software tool to black out the information, can be time-consuming, error-prone, and ineffective. The redacted information can sometimes be seen or recovered using certain techniques or software.
That's why redaction software is essential for anyone who needs to redact documents regularly and reliably. Redaction software can automate the process of identifying and removing sensitive information from various types of documents, such as PDFs, images, emails, or scanned files.
Redaction software can also apply different levels of redaction, such as permanent deletion, masking, encryption, or replacement.
Learn more about why redaction tools are important for investigators.
Redaction software is especially important considering the recent changes in Missouri's redaction rules. In 2023, the Missouri Supreme Court adopted new rules that require attorneys and parties to redact certain personally identifiable information (PII) from documents due to enabled public access.
These rules aim to protect the privacy and identity of the people involved in court cases, as well as prevent identity theft and fraud. However, they also pose new challenges for counsel and the public, who must file or access court documents.
How can they ensure that they redact the required information correctly and completely?
How can they avoid the penalties for non-compliance?
How can they balance the need for transparency and accountability with the need for privacy and security?
The answer is to use redaction software that can help them meet the new standards and expectations. Redaction software can make the process of redacting court documents faster, easier, and more accurate. It can also help them avoid human errors or oversights that could result in exposing sensitive information or violating the rules.
Redaction software is both a convenience and a necessity in today's digital world. Whether you are an attorney, a party, a journalist, a researcher, or a citizen, you need to be aware of the benefits and advantages of using redaction software for your document management needs.
Redaction software can help you protect yourself and others from the risks and harms of disclosing PII and comply with the laws and regulations governing your field or industry.
VIDIZMO Redactor - The Solution
VIDIZMO Redactor is designed to meet this challenge head-on. With its advanced features and user-friendly interface, it allows organizations to redact sensitive information quickly and accurately.
VIDIZMO Redactor offers several features and capabilities that make it a superior choice for document redaction, such as:
- Bulk document redaction: You can upload multiple documents at once, either as separate files or zip folders, and redact them in one go. This can save you a lot of time and hassle compared to redacting documents one by one.
- Customizable redaction rules: You can define your own rules for what information you want to redact, such as email addresses, social security numbers, credit card numbers, etc. You can also choose how you want to redact the information.
- Smart redaction suggestions: VIDIZMO Redactor can also suggest what information you may want to redact based on the context and content of your documents. For example, it can detect names, dates, locations, or other personal or sensitive information that you may have overlooked.
- Preview and edit options: Before finalizing your redacted documents, you can preview them and make any changes or corrections if needed. You can also undo or redo any actions you have taken during the redaction process.
- Secure and compliant storage: After redacting your documents, you can download them to your device or store them in VIDIZMO's secure cloud storage. VIDIZMO complies with various industry standards and regulations for data security and privacy, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc.
With VIDIZMO Redactor, organizations can ensure they are meeting these requirements while also improving their efficiency and accuracy in handling sensitive information.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, as privacy and compliance requirements continue to evolve, organizations need tools that can keep up. VIDIZMO Redactor offers a solution that not only meets current needs but is also designed to adapt to future changes. With its advanced features and user-friendly interface, it is an invaluable tool for any organization looking to enhance its privacy and compliance efforts.
VIDIZMO Redactor is your partner in successfully navigating the complexities of Missouri's redaction rules. Sign up for a 7-day free trial of VIDIZMO Redactor (no credit card required) or contact us today to discover how VIDIZMO can empower you to efficiently handle Missouri redaction requirements and enhance the effectiveness of your compliance program.
