Public Records Policy

What We Mean by Public Records

Public records are central to accountability journalism. They help readers evaluate claims, understand institutions, follow public decisions, and see how power is used.

We use public records to report on crime, corruption, civil rights, cyber crime, public safety, government accountability, white-collar crime, court proceedings, institutional failures, and other matters of public interest.

Public records may include court filings, docket entries, government audits, budgets, contracts, procurement documents, meeting records, agency statements, inspection reports, enforcement notices, lawsuits, complaints, judgments, settlements, sentencing records, public datasets, registries, corporate filings, licensing records, and public statements.

How We Use Public Records

A public document is not automatically repeated in full. We consider relevance, privacy, public-interest value, and potential harm before deciding how much detail to publish and how to frame it for readers.

Our goal is to explain what the record says, who created it, when it was filed, published, or updated, whether it contains allegations, findings, admissions, or disputed claims, what context readers need, and what remains unresolved. Public records can contain errors, omissions, one-sided claims, outdated information, or language that needs added context.

Privacy and Public Interest

We may avoid or limit details involving minors, victims, private individuals, addresses, phone numbers, personal identifiers, medical information, financial details, or other sensitive material unless there is a clear public-interest reason to publish them.

This site does not publish private information for harassment, retaliation, embarrassment, or shock value. Public availability alone is not the only test; editorial judgment matters.

Requests, Tips, and Documents

Readers may send records, tips, links, or supporting documents that help us verify a story or identify gaps in the public record. Submission does not guarantee publication, response, confidentiality, payment, legal protection, or investigation.

Material may be reviewed for relevance, authenticity, public-interest value, privacy concerns, and safety concerns before it shapes coverage. Some documents may be used as background only, quoted selectively, or declined altogether.

Updates and Corrections

If a record changes, is corrected, sealed, contradicted, or later turns out to lack important context, coverage may be updated. We may revise language, add clarifications, publish a correction, or add an editor's note when readers need to understand what changed.

Related pages include Source Attribution Policy, Corrections Policy, and Editorial Standards.