PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS (A POWERFUL TOOL)

“Under the federal Freedom of Information Act and public records laws in all 50 states, anyone can request information from federal, state and local agencies like the FBI, the Environmental Protection Agency or your local police department.“-EFF

“Lots of things can inspire public records or freedom of information requests — government announcements, news stories, Congressional hearings, and more — but once you've got the idea you have to know what to do with it.”-EFF

Public records laws go by many names (FOIA, Sunshine laws, Open Records, Sunshine Laws, Right to Know, FOIL, etc.) Each state has some version of their own (I’ve included a link list at the bottom of this page).

Though I do not recommend the entire site, the “blog post” linked with the button below does well overviewing FOIA terminology. For those of you who are new to FOIA,.

The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552

“The basic function of the Freedom of Information Act is to ensure informed citizens, vital to the functioning of a democratic society.” 

Consolidated reference list found at FOIA Wiki

Exemptions, exclusions, and other resources.