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Making Use Of A Government Records Search
In this new digital millennium that's become so ubiquitous in our lives, we're used to be able to call
up information on just about anything. There are always going to be situations where we need to know something
about somebody or some activity. In this regard, making use of a government records search system can go a long way
towards finding out everything about everybody.
Most people mistakenly believe the word "privacy" is written down somewhere in the U. S. Constitution. Well, the
fact is that it's actually not, though that doesn't mean the right to privacy doesn't exist. The Supreme Court,
among other U. S. Judicial bodies, has held that a right to privacy is present all through the Constitution,
especially in the first 10 amendments collectively known as the Bill of Rights.
Local, state and federal governmental agencies take privacy seriously, but they also have to balance privacy with
the obligation of the government to make as much information as possible available to the public for its review.
This is one reason for the creation of the Privacy Act of 1974 and also for the Freedom of Information Act, first
signed into law in 1966 and amended 3 times since.
Because of the "FOIA, " as the Freedom of Information Act is known, governments are responsible for archiving or
otherwise storing records such as deeds and titles to homes, driver's records, arrest or detention records, other
property ownership documents and just about any other thing you might think you'd like to know about a person.
In reality, much more that the government knows about a person is actually available for public review than most
people know. Finding all that information - or at least the info that's needed - can take a bit more detective
work, or at least knowing which agencies have what information or data. For a lot of what might be needed, there
are many Internet-based search sites on hand.
These search sites might be the way to go, actually, especially if there's just no time to go and run down all the
information - scattered across many different government offices or official websites - that's desired. When it
comes to learning who owns what home and what they might have paid for it or owe on taxes for it, most
municipalities have helpfully put those records online.
For other records, it's going to take a FOIA request, meaning an official query - written down or using a supplied
official government form - will be needed. Certain records might not be given over, if they're covered under the
Privacy Act, but most aren't shielded, including - in some cases - adoption records, if they're requested by the
person who was adopted.
In the end, deciding one a reason for why one needs to do a government records search is the necessary and smart
first step before even going out and trying to find those records. It's smart because without knowing what one
should be looking for, one is liable to come back with literally mountains of forms or other records. So conduct a
search with a purpose and goal in mind and the chances of success will be improved.
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