A crime report is the most basic of public record.
The Freedom of Information Act in South Carolina, which has been upheld in many court decisions, makes it clear.
But during the past month, some residents in South Carolina haven’t been privy to public information regarding crime in their area as they had been in previous months.
Newspaper readers and television viewers in Charleston and Beaufort aren’t getting informed because law enforcement officials say they’re protecting privacy when media advocates say they also could be withholding data that could keep residents safe.
In a recent Associated Press story, Bill Rogers, executive director of the South Carolina Press Association, said, “You see a trend of police being more and more reticent to give out information. People are trying to withhold the names of victims and witnesses, places where crimes happen.”
The AP story sites a string of burglaries in a crime report that police blocked out the addresses. As Jay Bender, a lawyer who represents a number of media organizations, stated in the AP article, “The burglar certainly knows where he broke in. What about other people in the neighborhood? Shouldn’t they know what is going on? ... If the information needs to be private, don’t put it in a public record.”
Why not let the public know what’s going on in their community? Why not allow them to have the knowledge in order for them to take precautions?
Sharing information that is public record does lend help in solving crimes that are committed. When the public information is open to the public, it keeps the public from thinking crimes committed are worse than what they are, and it keeps rumors from being spread.
The Pee Dee has been fortunate in having the police release material in a timely manner, and the Morning News and local TV stations are ready to report such relevant news.
Most of the time, police come to the news media with information that helps them solve crimes or find suspects.
It also shows promise that, according to the AP, a workshop is planned for early next year with the state attorney general’s office — which advises to favor openness when in doubt — as a result of several sheriffs questioning the South Carolina Sheriffs Association about the open records act.
After all, the duty of the police is to protect people, not privacy.
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