Public records for all?
August 28, 2008: In the city of Richland, it's apparent that access to public records is based less on a commitment to observing the letter and spirit of the state's Open Records Act and more on an unfortunate decision to create economic barriers to a free flow of public information.
In Richland, a copy of a police incident report now costs $20. The Madison and Rankin County Sheriff's departments charge $10 for incident reports.
Some other agencies charge less. Florence Police Department charges 50 cents a page for copies. Read the full column here.
Public records: Fees a thinly disguised barrier
August 22, 2008: Since America is not a police state, when a crime occurs in your neighborhood, you have a right to know the basics of what happened.
The founders of this nation knew firsthand the dangers of a government that operated in secrecy, of flimsy charges and of people getting spirited away in dark of night.
For that reason, from the Declaration of Independence's insistence on individual liberty to the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights, government is held accountable. Read the full column here.
Richland public record requests called pricier than needed
August 21, 2008: The cost for public records in the city of Richland can be as much as $35 per request.
Richland Board of Aldermen earlier this week signed off on a unified fee system for public records requests.
Mayor Mark Scarborough said making the change was spurred by a new state law that makes police incident reports more readily available to the public. Read the full article here.
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