Associate Professor Jodie Gil highlighted how different states deal with releasing home address information to the public, during a poster presentation at the National Freedom of Information Coalition summit in Dallas April 12-13.
Gil’s research was among 12 papers selected for presentation at the summit.
The summit draws FOI advocates, journalists and lawyers from across the country. NFOIC is a non profit representing state FOI advocacy groups.
Gil reviewed Freedom of Information laws in 50 states and Washington D.C., looking at three records types: Personnel records, firearms permits, and voter registration lists. FOI laws outline which records states and municipalities must release to the public.
Gil’s research found the majority of states make home address information in voter registration lists public, but not for personnel records and firearms permits. Thirteen states have changed their laws on the past seven years to prohibit release of home address information, in response to privacy concerns.