Public records are a cornerstone of government transparency and accountability. The Freedom of Information Act enshrines the public’s right to access government records.
MuckRock helps journalists, researchers and other civic-minded people file requests and ensure this transparency. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or brand new to the world of public records, MuckRock offers a guide on how to access public records and how to bring these government documents to the public.
Understanding public records laws in your state
Access to public records varies from state to state.
Tracking all 50 U.S. states and its territories may be daunting, but MuckRock has made it easier by tracking how states implement these laws differently. We track exemptions that allow them to withhold records, how quickly each state responds, and other factors affecting government transparency, all in one place.
Not only do we explain the laws in your state, MuckRock provides resources like example requests, appeal language for denied requests, automated follow-up emails, and support in your requesting process.
Get inspiration for your request by exploring our FOIA logs
Last September, FOIAonline, a portal for Freedom of Information Act requests used by dozens of federal agencies, shut down to the dismay of many requesters. MuckRock and the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) partnered to host a publicly available archive of nearly 34,000 documents captured before FOIAonline was shuttered.
Now, the FOIA Log Explorer has over 160,000 requests stored from 21 state, local and federal agencies. These logs can help requesters jumpstart their requesting process and for reporters, how they can turn these logs into stories.
Take power into your own hands and get requesting
Whether it’s requesting a Brady list in your area or obtaining photos of the President of the United States with birthday cakes, you can get your burning questions answered by filing a public records request. And you might shed some light on the government agencies and officials!
For newcomers to the public records process, MuckRock offers FOIA 101 guides to help you better understand what is a public record, how to craft a request (even for an FBI file) and other answers to your FOIA questions.
For FOIA experts, get a refresher on your requesting skills by learning more about appeal fee categories, what to do with excessive redactions and more. With state public records laws changing each year, there’s always more to learn about the requesting process.
Sharing is caring
Did you have a successful request? Share it with the world! Making public records available to everyone can help shed the light on government dealings, official communications and can make an impact on your community.
On DocumentCloud, we share over 5 million publicly available documents that anyone can access through our open document archive. These documents are uploaded by verified newsrooms, research organizations and other groups that help inform the public through the user of primary source materials.
This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.
