SPRING 2005 NEWSLETTER
GEORGIA FOI ACCESS
GEORGIA FIRST AMENDMENT FOUNDATION

 Carolyn Carlson testifies in behalf of Atlanta SPJ in favor of SB 153

Before the Georgia House Judiciary Committee, March 17, 2005:

Thank you for allowing me to speak to you on behalf of the Society of Professional Journalists. My name is Carolyn Carlson and I represent both the Atlanta chapter and the national SPJ Freedom of Information Committee, for which I cochair the Campus Crime Subcommittee.

We strongly support the notion that all police forces should make their crime incident reports and arrest records public under state open records laws. Police power is a fundamental government function. The state is delegating this power when it certifies the employees of private colleges and universities to investigate, retain and arrest citizens of the state. It must also delegate the public accountability that goes along with this power.

SB153 ensures that every police department in the state operates under the exact same open records requirements and exemptions, including those at private colleges and universities.

SB153 is good public policy and we ask that you approve it.

Thank you for your time and I’m available to answer any questions.

Carolyn Carlson of Atlanta is a board member of Georgia First Amendment Foundation and a former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists.