California Police Fail, and Then Some, Public Records Audit

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California journalists tested public records law compliance in 34 of the state’s 58 counties, reporting that police often violated state records laws, intimidated people asking for records, improperly researched the requesters’ backgrounds, and in some cases delayedg for weeks the release of routine reports. The average compliance for the 200-plus departments and California Highway Patrol offices visited was 40 percent. Terry Francke, general counsel for Californians Aware, which coordinated the survey, said so many department responses were absurdly wrong that taxpayers should have legitimate questions about their administration. (1/12/07)