Summary of findings

The following is a summary of the findings from a June 15 open records access audit conducted by 20 newspapers encompassing all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City:

Overall results:

• Of the 144 possible responses, 22 were determined not applicable because of inconclusive results or lack of follow-up on the part of the auditor.
• Auditors received the records sought, either immediately or after an FOI, in 61 instances, or 50 percent of the time.
• Auditors were told that the record sought was not a public record 24 times, or 19.67 percent of the time. The remaining 30 percent are a range of denials outlined below.
• Written requests were required 26 percent of the time.
• Requests were granted immediately 23 percent of the time.
• Auditors were referred to supervisors 37 percent of the time.
• Eight percent were charged for copies.
• Auditors were asked to identify themselves 46 percent of the time; they were required to identify themselves 22 percent of the time.
• Auditors were asked why they wanted the record 35 percent of the time; 9 percent had to give a reason in order to get the record.
• Eighteen percent were asked whom they worked for; 3 percent had to say who they worked for in order to get the record.
• Auditors quoted state law in order to get the record 10 percent of the time.

Take me to results for:

MVA

School Violence Report

Arrest Log

Superintendent Contract

Nursing Home Inspection Report

Police Chief Expense Report

Auditors were asked to go to the state Motor Vehicle Administration and get the driving record of the state senator in their district. Among the responses:

7 N/A Two because auditor did not have necessary info, five because of

MVA office duplication

8 YES Granted immediately or after short delay

8 NO Told it wasn’t a public record

1 OTHER Told agency couldn’t redact personal information

Auditors were asked to go to their school administration building and get a copy of the latest school violence report, which is submitted annually to the state. Among the responses:

3 N/A 2 custodian unavailable, no follow-up; 1 auditor missed

9 YES Granted immediately or after short delay

5 NO Said record did not exist

3 NO Said report wasn’t ready

3 NO 2 FOI 30 days expired; 1 custodian didn’t return calls

1 NO Told it was not a public record

1 N/A Custodian not present, no follow-up

6 YES Granted immediately or after delay

12 NO Said it’s not a public record

2 NO FOI 30 days expired

1 NO Doesn’t keep arrest logs

1 NO Referred to District Court

1 NO Denied because of agency’s own policy

4 N/A Follow-up not accomplished

12 YES Granted immediately or after FOI

5 NO FOI expired with no response

3 NO Told it wasn’t a public record

5 N/A Follow-up with custodian not accomplished

14 YES Granted immediately or after delay

2 NO Referred to state web site or nursing home

2 NO Ombudsman didn’t return repeated calls/visits

1 NO Said county didn’t have an ombudsman

2 N/A Follow-up not accomplished

13 YES Granted immediately or after a delay

3 NO Said chief didn’t submit expenses

3 NO Said report didn’t exist

1 NO Said request was unclear

1 NO Said reports specific to chief weren’t kept

1 NO FOI expired with no response

Remove 3 who said chief did not submit expense reports and percentage increases to 68.42

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