Last week, MuckRock submitted requests for any policies and materials these agencies might have related to the post-incarceration opportunities. So far, the responses can’t speak to the question, because most Departments of Correction don’t keep the data.

For the legal world of the living, the deceased generally lack a right to privacy, their government records suddenly subject to disclosure. But in each state, laws limit what can be released to whom.

A request for domestic violence response policies for state police departments in all 50 states found 28 states willing to release the policies free of charge, or for a small fee. Twelve states reported having no such policy. Four - Hawaii, Kansas, New Hampshire, and South Dakota - rejected the request, arguing that granting it would compromise security, reveal confidential law enforcement techniques, or disrupt the operation of government.

Anonymous rape kits allow victims who choose to not press charges to receive critical medical care. But opting out of pressing charges shouldn’t preclude testing, and shouldn’t relegate the kit to sit forgotten on an evidence room shelf.

To keep filing in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware and New Hampshire, MuckRock needs your help. In return, you’ll get a free Pro account and the knowledge that you’re helping muckrakers across the country keep government accountable.

Eight months ago, MuckRock launched a new project to examine nationwide gun policies. It was a simple premise: file the same FOIA request with all 50 Attorney General offices and state police departments, and see what standards we can draw. What we got, however, illustrates just how little consistency in the data there is - and how difficult tackling this problem can be.

This summer, MuckRock submitted requests to all 50 state Departments of Correction for their materials related to the transportation of inmates. Following up on a stunning story by The Marshall Project on privately-operated prisoner transport, the requests, worded broadly, sought the policies and contracts that are being employed across the country. Two months in, here’s what we’ve found so far.

There are many reasons incarcerated individuals are segregated from the general population, and Departments of Correction across the country have multiple ways of describing them. MuckRock takes a look at New England as we begin to tease out the “who, why, when, and for how long” of solitary confinement.

After today’s Supreme Court decision affirming states’ rights to prohibit out of state requester, MuckRock is looking for partners to help ensure transparency and open access are available to everyone throughout America. In exchange, we’re offering up to two users in each of the impacted states pro accounts — and the satisfaction of knowing they are making an important contribution to sunshine across America.