OP-ED | Put The Screws To Politicians Who Don’t Care About FOI – CT News Junkie

By Terry Cowgill Aside from the fact that the state woke up and decided not to put in the governor’s mansion an erratic financier who wouldn’t tell us what he’d do if elected, voters who rose Wednesday morning had something Continue reading OP-ED | Put The Screws To Politicians Who Don’t Care About FOI – CT News Junkie

CT News Junkie | Lawmakers Unlikely To Take Action On Public Disclosure, Privacy Bills

by Hugh McQuaid     CTNJ file photo Sen. Anthony Musto Lawmakers appear unlikely to act in the remaining two weeks of the session on two pieces of legislation aimed at balancing crime victim privacy with Connecticut’s public disclosure law. Continue reading CT News Junkie | Lawmakers Unlikely To Take Action On Public Disclosure, Privacy Bills

Freedom Of Information Always Under Attack – OP-ED, The Hatford Courant

By J. CHARLES MOKRISKI That Connecticut’s widely heralded Freedom of Information Act is under assault is troubling, but not new. Since the Newtown tragedy in December 2012, we’ve seen relentless efforts to cut back on public access to police reports Continue reading Freedom Of Information Always Under Attack – OP-ED, The Hatford Courant

Tighter Rules OK’d On Public’s Access To Crime Records – Courant.com

By DANIELA ALTIMARI, altimari@courant.com The Hartford Courant 6:53 p.m. EDT, April 1, 2014 HARTFORD — The stage is set for a showdown at the General Assembly on crime victim privacy and the public’s right to know.   On Tuesday, the Continue reading Tighter Rules OK’d On Public’s Access To Crime Records – Courant.com

Legislative task force in Conn. adopts look, listen but do not copy (without a trip to the commission) rule

By James H. Smith, retired editor and president of the non-profit Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information When Connecticut legislators met in secret last session, working with the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, they came Continue reading Legislative task force in Conn. adopts look, listen but do not copy (without a trip to the commission) rule

Expert Testimony for the Task Force on Victim Privacy and the Public’s Right to Know

The biggest threat to freedom of information in Connecticut resides at the moment on the Task Force on Victim Privacy and the Public’s Right to Know. The task force is supposed to advise the legislature by 12/31/13 on it’s hastily Continue reading Expert Testimony for the Task Force on Victim Privacy and the Public’s Right to Know

Victim’s Rights Can’t Trump Necessity of Transparency

In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, it’s understandable that government officials may look for quick fixes, especially those that might relieve some of the victims’ anguish. But emotion-charged quick fixes and knee-jerk responses often bring devastating unintended consequences. Continue reading Victim’s Rights Can’t Trump Necessity of Transparency