Tennessee FOI Audit Shows a Two-Thirds Compliance Rate

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Public officials in Tennessee denied access to public information one-third of the time in an FOI audit conducted by the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. Thirty of 85 local police agencies and 40 of 89 sheriffs’ offices surveyed denied citizen requests to view crime reports. Auditors asked 91 school systems for the latest report on expulsions and suspensions for drugs, weapons and violence. Only 60% of the 91 school systems checked supplied the records within 48 hours. However 88% provided the last approved minutes of the local zoning or planning board as requested. (11/28/04)