Man Accused Of Illegal Release Of Confidential Records: Darien PD

DARIEN, CT — A 57-year-old Wilson, North Carolina man was arrested on a warrant by Darien police this week in connection with a case in which confidential records from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families were released illegally, according to authorities.

Joseph Hardison surrendered to Darien police on Tuesday and was charged with unauthorized disclosure of D.C.F. records.

The case was opened by police on July 30 when the department was notified that Hardison "had sent an email containing an attachment of a confidential Department of Children and Families (D.C.F.) report."

Information on what the report contained was not disclosed, but such reports contain personal information, among other matters, according to officials.

"Per Connecticut General Statute 17a-28; Confidentiality and Access to Records, D.C.F. reports are confidential documents that contain personal information about reporting parties, victims, suspects, juveniles, etc., and dissemination is restricted," wrote Darien police in a statement. "Per C.G.S. 17a-28 records of this type can only be released to a defined group of parties. Investigation revealed that Hardison sent the email to recipients that were not part of the statutorily defined group."

Darien police said that when D.C.F. learned what had transpired "investigators were advised that the manner in which Hardison disseminated the report was prohibited by law." Subsequently, a warrant was obtained for Hardison's arrest.

"He was fingerprinted, photographed and fully processed for the above charge. During processing, Hardison made no comment regarding the incident," officials wrote adding that no further information would be released at this time.

Hardison was released on a promise to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 8.