Purchasing Resources for Indiana Public Records

Indiana Public Records Laws and Regulations

Learn about agencies that control and provide access to public records in Indiana
By Emmet McMahan

Indiana public records laws and regulations provide access to government records like budget reports and meeting minutes. They also allow public access to records on individuals, such as vital records and criminal records.
 

State of Indiana public records laws can be classified by the type of public records that they affect. These include the three following categories:

1. Laws on Indiana state public records that address the way in which these records can be accessed. These laws control issues such as the requirement for providing a reason for the information, specifying fees that an agency may charge and stating the length of time that the state is allowed to respond to a request for information.
2. Laws that specify an individual's information that may be considered public. These laws affect the way in which an individual may access their own information and how they may allow access by another party, such as the process behind background checks.
3. Laws that control the government records that the public may access. These laws may be intended to keep individuals informed on government decisions or allow journalists to report on government activity.

Examine the laws that control access to an Indiana public record

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for Indiana is a law that typically guides access to Indiana court records and is usually handled by the attorney general's office. Indiana criminal records may also be obtained from municipal and county courts.
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The Indiana Commission on Public Records provides extensive information on the laws regarding public information in Indiana. The Indiana Coalition for Open Government offers resources for keeping updated on changes in public records laws in Indiana.

Study the laws that affect Indiana access to public records on individuals

Public records laws control access to Indiana bankruptcy records, criminal history and vital statistics. Some of these records may only be accessible to a designated individual or a party.
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State Archives and Libraries offers a public records search and provides information on the laws for accessing records on individuals in Indiana. CensusRecords.net provides the specific regulations for accessing each type of vital record in Indiana.

Review the Indiana public records laws that affect government records

Government records laws allow access to records such as real estate sales, budget reports and meeting minutes. Some government entities may specialize in one particular type of record, while others may provide access to many different types of government records.
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The Indiana General Assembly provides the laws that control the public's access to government records. Wayne County provides the regulations on accessing a variety of government records such as meeting minutes.

• Indiana public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.