Responsibility for FBI R-84 Disposition Report

Who is responsible for completing the Federal Bureau of Investigation's R-84 Disposition The FBI R-84 Disposition Report is used to track the final disposition of a defendant following his arrest. The instructions on the report suggest that the arresting agency should fill in office for completion as the defendant's case progresses through the system. Section (a)(1)(C) specifically provides that instead of the R-84 report being forwarded to the court for entry of judgment, the court shall deliver "to the appropriate local law enforcement agency a completion of an R-84 Disposition Card." Therefore, Tennessee law shifts the responsibility to the local law enforcement agency responsible for booking the defendant to ensure completion of the R- 84 Disposition Report. Since the Compiler's Notes of Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-4-115 state that the S T A T E O F T E N N E S S E E OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 425 FIFTH AVENUE NORTH NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243 March 31, 2000 Opinion No. 00-056 Responsibility for FBI R-84 Disposition Report QUESTION Who is responsible for completing the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s R-84 Disposition Report? OPINION Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-4-115 requires the local law enforcement agency responsible for booking the defendant to complete the R-84 Disposition Report. ANALYSIS The FBI R-84 Disposition Report is used to track the final disposition of a defendant following his arrest. The instructions on the report suggest that the arresting agency should fill in all arrest data and obtain fingerprints, and that the report should be forwarded to the next appropriate office for completion as the defendant’s case progresses through the system. Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-4-115 provides for standardized booking procedures for arrestees. Section (a)(1)(C) specifically provides that instead of the R-84 report being forwarded to the court for entry of judgment, the court shall deliver “to the appropriate local law enforcement agency a completed judgment order signed by a judge to be used by the local law enforcement agency for completion of an R-84 Disposition Card.” Therefore, Tennessee law shifts the responsibility to the local law enforcement agency responsible for booking the defendant to ensure completion of the R- 84 Disposition Report. Since the Compiler’s Notes of Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-4-115 state that the purpose of the statute is to ensure that dangerous felons are tracked in the system and since the statute provides penalties for non-compliance, it appears that the requirement that the appropriate local law enforcement agency complete the R-84 Disposition Report is mandatory. Page 2 PAUL G. SUMMERS Attorney General and Reporter MICHAEL E. MOORE Solicitor General DAVID H. FINDLEY Assistant Attorney General Requested by: Honorable Jim. T. Hamilton Circuit Judge, 22 Judicial District nd 22 Public Square, Suite 3 Columbia, TN 38402 Circuit Judge, 22ⁿᵈ Judicial District