Sheriffs and police departments were least likely to provide the requested information, a crime log or crime report. The law exempts some crime information but defines as public the identities of adults arrested, the date, general location and description of a crime, the identity of the investigative officer and a description of any injuries or damaged or stolen property. However, confusion can occur because the law does allow law enforcement agencies to withhold at least some information about ongoing criminal investigations. Without the crime record results, the rate of compliance in the survey rises to 69.3 percent. Overall, the Freedom of Information Act outlines what records and information citizens are entitled to obtain.
Local officials say they try to comply with it.
A citizen coming in off the street . . . is going to expect the front line to know what to do. That's the way a normal person would do it. Many officials, as well as secretaries, receptionists and other office workers, appeared unfamiliar with how to handle queries. Others showed an almost gleeful disregard of the law. Many of the requesters had to return to offices several times or found themselves being routed through a maze of bureaucracy, often finally being told the information was not available.