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Common Records |
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Record: Arrest warrants What it shows: Charges that a police agency or prosecutors intend to take to court against a defendant. Where to find it: Police agencies should maintain files of open warrants. Under provisions enacted in 1998 by the state legislature, arrest warrants are not public records until 90 days after they have been issued, ostensibly to give law enforcement time to locate the individual and serve the warrant. Why you need it: Arrest warrants ensure that suspects are being properly charged if they are suspected of a crime.
Record: Audits What it shows: Audits can show whether an agency is properly spending its money or whether programs and procedures in place are accomplishing the desired results. Where to find it: Agencies that receive local, state or federal money probably have to conduct audits to account for that money. Those records should be available from the agency or from the source of the money. In addition, many agencies perform operational audits for such things as certification or to ensure they are in compliance with local, state or federal laws. These audits also should be available from the agency, or from any entity overseeing the agency for purposes of certification or grant approval. The Federal Audit Clearinghouse, under the federal Office of Management and Budget, maintains a Web site with an extensive database of audits for a variety of agencies and governmental bodies. Why you need it: Ensuring that tax dollars are being wisely spent and that agencies are operating in the most efficient manner possible.
Record: Autopsy reports What it shows: The cause of death when that death occurs under unusual circumstances. Where to find it: The state Office of the Medical Examiner Why you need it: Cause of death can be used in court cases to establish a defendant’s guilt or innocence.
Record: Birth Certificates What it shows: Record of a person’s birth in Maryland Where to find it: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Division of Vital Records. Why you need it: Birth records may be needed to establish citizenship or for the purpose of settling an estate. They are, however, available only to the person named on the record or an authorized representative, who must submit a court order or notarized statement signed by the person named on the record.
Record: Bridge inspections What it shows: Bridge inspection data rate structures on their functionality and structural integrity. Where to find it: The State Highway Administration, Bridge Inspections and Remedial Engineering Division. Why you need it: The state receives federal money for bridge work. About 50 percent of Maryland bridges are under state control; about 35 percent are under county control; the remainder are under federal control. Knowing that our bridges are safe, and that limited funding is going where it is needed most is a matter of considerable public interest.
Record: Budgets What it shows: Budgets show the revenues and expenses for a government body. Where to find it: Most government bodies have a budget office, where the documents can be located. In addition, the annual budget process must go through a public hearing schedule where residents can come and comment on the proposal. (See also: Public meetings). Why you need it: Tracking government spending, seeing where tax dollars are going and ensuring sound fiscal decisions. (See also: Budget Expenses).
Record: Budget Expenses What it shows: Expenses paid with tax dollars (such as cell phones, travel or meals or government-issued credit cards) are public records. Where to find it: Government bodies have to maintain records of expenses paid in order to account for their expenditures of tax dollars. Why you need it: These records can show, for instance, if a public official is misusing a government-issued credit card by making unauthorized charges, or making personal calls on a government-issued cell phone. Keeping these records open is essential to the public’s ability to watch over government spending.
Record: Business/Professional Licenses What it shows: Can show whether a business is licensed to work in the county, municipality and/or state, if any violations have been noted or if any complaints have been filed. Where to find it: County or municipal offices that require licenses or permits will have an office where these can be found. At the state level, the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation maintains these records. (See also: Division of Financial Regulation and Division of Professional Licensing) Why you need it: Knowing whether a vendor is properly licensed to work in the area or whether a professional has any violations or complaints can be helpful when searching for a contractor, real estate agent or any number of other professions. Much of the information is available on DLLR’s Web site, but some of the information is not up to date and it may take a request to the agency to get the most current information available.
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