PRIVACY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Journalistic integrity is the foundation on which The California Crime Times has been established. It is the sole purpose of The California Crime Times to seek truth and to provide information to the public in an ethical and honest manner. The California Crime Times carefully gather, interpret and verify information to ensure that facts, issues and events are reported accurately.
The California Crime Times is a news organization with a special interest in reporting crime news, statistics, and information for the state of California. The crime news and information that is published is used and reviewed by, Drug and Alcohol Counselors, Insurance Agencies, Real Estate Agents, Domestic Violence Counselors, Business Developers, Court-Accredited Alcohol Schools, Security Sales Reps, Delivery Companies, Travel Agencies, Alcohol Ignition Disabler Equipment Manufacturers, Private Investigators, Risk Management, Rental Car Customers, Legal Counselors, People Moving In and Out of Areas, and Parents of College Students.
PARTIAL SUBSCRIBER LIST: Tarbell Realty, ReMax Realty, Thomas Brothers Maps (division of Rand McNally), Farmers Insurance, Sizzler Restaurants, Alamo Rental Car, and University of San Diego Library.
The California Crime Times takes privacy and the integrity of published information seriously. All public information from The California Crime Times is gathered from Government Agencies. The California Crime Times only publishes contemporaneous arrest information for no more than fourteen (14) days from the date it first becomes available. After fourteen (14) days of publishing the contemporaneous crime data, all data is removed to prevent future inaccurate entries.
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POLICY REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THE CALIFORNIA CRIME TIMES
The California Crime Times requires their subscribers to adhere to the policies, standards, and safeguards pertaining to the discarding of public arrest information. Under no circumstances will it be allowed for a subscriber to store contemporaneous crime data from The California Crime Times.
Subscribers to CCT's news service agree that when contacted by an individual concerning an alleged inaccuracy concerning that individual, the subscriber or individual must immediately contact CCT. After receiving such notice, CCT will contact the government agency that provided the public record to learn how this inaccuracy was reported and report back to the subscriber or individual of the findings. Further, subscribers to CCT's news service agree, by contract, that if any individual contacts them and requests that their name be removed from being published, the subscriber must contact CCT who will then delete the individual's name from their published information.
Under the Public Records Act, a public record is defined as "any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business, prepared, owned, used, or retained, by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics." [3] The definition of the term "writing" is "handwriting, typewriting, printing... and every other means of recording upon any form of communication... including letters,... pictures,... magnetic... tapes,... and discs." [4] Computer software developed by a state agency is not considered a public record. However, public records stored in a computer database are subject to disclosure under the Act. [5] The Act provides that public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the public agency. Anyone may inspect and receive a copy of any public record, and an exact copy must be provided unless it is impractical. Each agency may adopt regulations stating their procedures. In addition, the Act requires 37 agencies to establish and make available written guidelines for the accessibility of their records. [6] Requests for computer data can be provided in a form determined by the specific agency. While agencies may establish specific procedural requirements to request data, in general a request must:
• Be in writing;
• Be directed to the agency's Custodian of Records;
• Provide as much detail as possible about the information being sought; and
• Provide the name, address, and telephone number of the requester.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PUBLIC RECORDS
PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION: A REVIEW OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT AND THE INFORMATION PRACTICES ACT
In this report, produced by the Office of the Governor of the state of California, the Council recommends that all state agencies provide the public with electronic access to government databases containing public information - fully phased-in by the year 2000. This approach would provide easier access to information already subject to disclosure under existing state laws. [1]
The California Public Records Act of 1968 regulates the government's control and handling of the information contained in its records. By adopting this Act, the legislature declared that every person in California has a fundamental and necessary right to access information concerning the conduct of the people's business, while remaining mindful of the privacy rights of individuals. [2] The Act's objective is to increase access to information in the possession of public agencies. The law applies to all records, in whatever form, maintained by state and local agencies - excluding the legislative and judicial branches.
Agencies have up to 10 days after the receipt to comply with a request, but may extend that time up to 10 days for unusual circumstances. An agency may charge for copies to recover direct costs of duplication or a statutory fee, if applicable.
The Act sets forth specific exemptions for nondisclosure of information. [7] Most of the exemptions deal with internal correspondence, investigative records, and financial records. These exemptions are generally discretionary; thus, an agency may disclose exempted information if it chooses to do so, unless disclosure is otherwise prohibited. While access to government information is established as a right, the Legislature has enacted laws that balance it with the right to privacy. The California Information Practices Act of 1977 is designed to protect personal and confidential information held by various state agencies. Under the Information Practices Act, no agency may disclose any personal information in a manner that would link the information disclosed to the individual to whom it pertains, unless the disclosure of the information meets certain criteria. [8] It is a comprehensive law that allows access by individuals to information about themselves and is based on the premise that personal privacy must be protected by placing constraints on the state government's collection, maintenance, and dissemination of information about individuals.
For an agency to disclose information about an individual, it must meet at least one of 22 statutory conditions. Some examples of these disclosure conditions are: (1) the release will allow an agency to perform its duties; (2) the information is being transmitted to the State Archives; or (3) the information is being released to the guardian of a child.
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