Open records law violated (Indiana)

Indianapolis Star | 10/28/04 | add925

[add925]

Government officials routinely broke or skirted Indiana's open records law during a statewide test by eight newspapers.

Journalists presenting themselves as citizens visited government offices in all 92 counties to see how readily officials turned over documents that are supposed to be available to anyone.

While some journalists easily obtained the records, others were intimidated, questioned repeatedly, put off for days, or wrongly told they needed a court order or subpoena. One county worker said it would take "an act of God" for him to turn over the public document.

For more, see:

http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/188949-6629-009.html

[add925]

Wonder if election fraud is a hard to track as crime stats?

[MineralMan]

http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/188949-6629-009.html

[DrDavid]

Why aren't journalists doing this all over the US for local and state government and school districts?

[MineralMan]

"Why aren't journalists doing this all over the US for local and state government and school districts?"

Good question. Another good question is why we all aren't doing it. If there is a law requiring public access to these records, then we should test it from time to time.

I especially like the one about the salaries of government employees. I'd like to see that published once a year in every newspaper in the country.

In fact, I think I'll drive down tomorrow and get a copy of the police log in my city for the previous day.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Des Moines Tribune (the Des Moines Register's afternoon paper, now long gone) used to do this. Every person who was on the state payroll had their salaries published and it POed many, many people. Included in the list were some high paid medical specialists at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. I don't know if they left the University because of this annual treatment but there was a lot of chatter that they were about to leave.

[Fixit]

At least none of them were assaulted for simply asking to see public records.
http://www.rcfp.org/news/2001/1218connec.html

Students discover poor compliance with Connecticut FOI laws

• A recent study from Southern Connecticut State University finds only 10 of 68 state agencies granting access to public records.

Stephanie Tsolas walked into the Office of the Victim Advocate on March 23 seeking work attendance records of the Connecticut state advocate but instead got a tongue lashing from the state advocate himself, she said.

Tsolas, a student at Southern Connecticut State University, said James Papillo swore at her and berated her for asking for the record. She said Papillo grabbed her arm and threatened to call the police.

[More at the link]

My sense of irony just loves the fact that the CT state Victim's Advocate (allegedly) assaulted and threatened a young girl who requested public records.