A new law in Maryland opens to the public more police disciplinary records. According to a Nov. 24, 2021, report in The Washington Post, the new law has left police departments scrambling to respond to new records requests. Advocates for open records and police accountability applaud the law. “The inability to obtain records in police…
Tag: Maryland
When it Comes to Government Openness, Maryland Is a ‘Backwater’
A government geek who hoped to flip open her laptop and watch the Maryland State Ethics Commission in action on Thursday was in for a disappointment. The panel, which met at 9 a.m. in its office near the State House, has never live-streamed its meetings. Critics say requiring the public to attend board and commission…
Scripps Howard Foundation establishes Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism
In a move to advance high-quality enterprise journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation today announced a $6 million investment into the creation of two centers for investigative journalism. Arizona State University and the University of Maryland will each receive $3 million over three years from the Scripps Howard Foundation to establish a Howard Center for Investigative…
Md.: Open data portal encourages residents to analyze their government
Data from the Prince George’s County government became easier to access this week after the county relaunched a website that gives the public the power to probe, download and search data sets about everything from building permits to crime.
…
OpEd: Transparency still lacking in Md. government
…
Maryland citizens to gain peek at police discipline, but not full view
The process by which police officers are disciplined in Maryland has long been shrouded in secrecy. But bills passed by the legislature this year should allow citizens more of a peek behind the curtain.
Civilians will be included in the training process for officers, and internal disciplinary hearings will be made public. Residents could get a seat at the table to decide the outcome of those hearings.
…
Maryland lawmakers use loophole to dodge open meetings law
The Prince George's County delegation in the Maryland House of Delegates will not meet Friday, but the Democratic caucus of that delegation will. The membership of the delegation and the caucus are precisely the same. The difference is that where delegation meetings are generally open to the public, party caucus meetings are not.
…
Maryland bills seek to boost government transparency, accountability
Government transparency was the reoccurring theme this week at a Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee hearing, as lawmakers pushed for the passage of multiple bills that would beef up requirements of the Open Meetings Act.
As it now stands, the Open Meetings Act requires local- and state-level public bodies to hold open sessions in a location that is accessible to attendees, provide the public adequate notice of those sessions, and allow them to view the respective meeting minutes.
…
Maryland challenged for shielding identities of abortion providers
In early 2013, after two women died after abortions and the state began enforcing new rules for providers, activist Andrew Glenn sought to inspect applications to operate abortion clinics in Maryland.
…
Maryland hiring ombudsman for public records controversies
Wanted: Public records expert with a willingness to jump into fights between the news media and government officials.
Maryland's attorney general is now hiring an ombudsman to mediate disputes over access to public information, a post that was created by lawmakers but had been unfilled.
…