Public records
Massachusetts District Attorney Sued for Refusing To Release Names of Problem Cops
Massachusetts reformed its notoriously bad public records laws in 2020, but reporters are still fighting to get the police misconduct files they're legally entitled to.
Trump Reportedly Viewed a Supposedly Declassified Document As a Secret He Was Not Allowed To Share
The recorded comments could be relevant to a charge that the former president willfully mishandled national defense information.
Trump's Disregard for the Rule of Law Is at Least As Bad As Biden's
The former president reminds us that claiming unbridled executive power is a bipartisan tendency.
Judge Rules New York State Police Must Disclose Misconduct Records
It's been nearly three years since New York repealed its police secrecy law, and departments are still fighting to hide misconduct records.
Want Better Journalism and Less B.S.? Demand Stronger Public Record Laws.
Even if you despise the media, you should be rooting for better public record laws.
Alabama Dodges Police Transparency, Hiding Violent Body Camera Footage from Public
Montgomery doesn’t want people to see a police dog maul a man to death out of fear of the response.
Louisiana Sheriffs' Offices Have Been Destroying Public Records Without Permission
"Comprehensive and accurate records are critical if patterns and causes of harm are going to be identified and corrected," said an attorney representing Louisiana inmates.
New Jersey Town That Sued a Woman for Public Records Requests Now Wants Lawyer Prosecuted for Same Thing
Irvington made national headlines last year when it filed a lawsuit against an 82-year-old woman for filing too many public records requests. Now it says a lawyer for FIRE should be prosecuted.
Will the Uvalde Shooting Prompt Texas To Finally Close a Police Secrecy Loophole?
Texas law allows police to withhold records of suspects who were never convicted. Police abuse it to hide records from families, reporters, and lawyers investigating deaths in custody.
It's Way Past Time To Release the Rest of the JFK Assassination Files
Joe Biden just declassified another batch, but the government is still keeping some under wraps.
Florida Officer Shoots and Kills Man Mid-Sentence for Refusing To Drop an Axe
Now the officer is trying to keep his identity secret under a state law intended to protect crime victims.
School District Must Release E-Mail List of Parents to Whom It Sent Various Ideological Advocacy Messages
"[T]he District wants to be able to use government resources to collect and utilize these e-mail addresses to promote and advance the particular 'community outreach' issues and positions of District (government) leaders while denying others in the community the opportunity to utilize the e-mail addresses to share differing viewpoints."
Anonymity and Pro-Abortion-Rights Initiatives and Referenda
What kind of a showing of possible "harassment" or "reprisals" must backers of such ballot measures make to keep petition signatures (and financial contributions) from becoming public records?
Why Does Border Patrol Need the Ability To Delete Messages?
A lawsuit attempts to find out how federal agents are implementing Wickr, a communications service that has an auto-erase function.
New Jersey Town Sues Elderly Woman for Filing Too Many Public Records Requests
Irvington Township says it's being bullied by 82-year-old Elouise McDaniel and is asking a court to block her from filing public records requests.
Florida Cops Use a Victims' Rights Law To Conceal Their Names
Poorly written “Marsy’s Law” may keep citizens from knowing which officers are using deadly force on the job.
House Passes Bill To Make Federal Court Records Free to the Public
The PACER database is antiquated and expensive to access, and that's just the way the federal judiciary likes it.
Be Warned, Coronavirus Snitches: You Too May Be Snitched On
St. Louis tattlers discover their complaints about open businesses are public records.
A Tennessee County Destroyed Hundreds of Records Requested by a Local Newspaper
The Hamilton County Attorney's Office later admitted that its policies conflict with the state's public records law.
California's Top Court Finally Allows Law Enforcement Agencies to Share List of Problem Cops With Prosecutors
Powerful unions and state-mandated secrecy made it a fight to know about misconduct.
California Police Agencies Were Supposed To Make Misconduct Records Public. Why Isn't It Happening?
Media outlets are seeing foot-dragging, destroyed records, and demands for big money for compliance.
College Title IX Official Orders Student Newspaper To Turn Over Unpublished Videos
Administrator at California's Southwestern College tried to use government transparency law on journalists.
Texas Police Union Kills Effort To Close State's 'Dead Suspect Loophole'
Texas law lets police hide records of suspects who die in custody from grieving families. It could have been fixed, but a police union torpedoed the reform bill.
How the 'Dead Suspect Loophole' Lets Texas Police Hide Records of Jail Deaths and Shootings
A Reason investigation of a notorious Texas public records loophole found 81 cases where police hid records of shootings and deaths in custody.
Blockchain Is Changing Lives in Africa
Startups from Cape Town to Nairobi think the budding technology is the future of the continent.
California Lawmakers Vote to Give Citizens Access to Records About Police Misbehavior
State law keeps misconduct secret from the public. That may be about to change.
