Public Records Directory Blog

Santa Barbara has become one of the many counties in the United States to provide an online, searchable sex offender database for its citizens. The database is called Offender Watch, and it is managed by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s office.

The site provides a slide-show introduction describing how to use the new system. The slide-show also lists informative statistics about sex offenders such as: “More than half of rape/sexual assault incidents happen within a mile of the victim’s home.”

Incidentally, the new searchable sex offender registry allows users to enter their address and then view a map pinpointing registered sex offenders within a one mile radius of the address. Concerned citizens can also register to be notified of new sex offenders in their neighborhood. The Sheriff’s department is legally allowed to make specific notifications to any resident living within 1,000 feet of a register offender. Searches for a specific registered sex offender can also be performed through this site.

Providing this website is a great step to making sex offender information more accessible to the public. However, we’ve probably all seen those movies or heard of stories where someone goes on a one man crusade to crucify a sex offender in their neighborhood. Sex offender registries are created to provide the public with information to help keep us, our loved ones, and our neighbors safe. So, as members of the public, it is also important that we use the power of information responsibly.

Those not located in the Santa Barbra neighborhood can check with the local Sheriff’s Department to find out if they operate a sex offender registry. Also, many state Department of Corrections offices maintain a sex offender registry. For easy access to your state or neighborhood’s sex offender registry, visit The Free Public Records Directory. This site provides search resources and links, by state, for sex offender registries.

Watching the news or reading your daily news paper is a reminder that we are deep in election season. Among critical issues such as the environment, immigration, and the economy, another hot button topic among candidates is campaign finance.

Campaign finance refers to how money is raised for election campaigns. Some have concerns that how a candidate raises their money could effect the type of legislation they pass and how they lead. This concern is based on the fear that more money from one person or organization may translate into more expected political favors from the candidate if elected. This concern is one of the many reasons why campaign finance records are public records.

The Federal Election Committee (FEC) maintains a searchable online database which discloses who is giving to whom, and how much. Several search options are available, including searches for contributions made by individuals, contributions received or made by committees, and contributions received by a campaign. The search results show the contributor’s name, dollar amount, date of contribution, and a link to the FEC contribution document.

Although the current focus may be on the presidential election, campaign finance records are also available for local campaigns. The locations of, and access to, campaign finance records for local elections vary by state. However, in most states, this information can be found with the Secretary of State. Many states, such as California, New Hampshire, and Virginia, provide online access to campaign finance records.

To find where your state’s campaign finance records are located, visit the Free Public Records Directory. The Free Public Records Directory provides links to campaign finance information by state. Simply click on your state of interest, then select “Voter and Election Records” in the drop-down category box.�

In the world of open government records, 2008 has been exciting year in Pennsylvania. In February 2008, the Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, signed an open records bill which created the presumption that all government records are open to the public, absent a few exceptions. If a government agency refuses to make certain requested information public, then it is the government’s responsibility to show why the information should not be public. This law will officially go into effect on January 1, 2009.

In another step towards expanding public access to government records, a new Office of Open Records will also be opening in Pennsylvania in late 2008. Establishing an Open Records Office was mandated in Pennsylvania’s new open records law. This office will be an important resource in ensuring that the open records laws work in such a way that the public are able to receive the information to which they are entitled by law. The office will set policies, and it will also handle any disputes between citizens and government officials regarding access to the government records.

After interviewing 6 candidates, On April 24^th Governor Ed Rendell appointed an attorney and former journalist named Terry Mutchler to be the Executive Director of the Open Records Office. Mutchler will begin her new post in June 2008. Prior to being appointed to this new position, Terry Mutchler worked on public access issues for the state of Illinois as a public access counselor. Many in Pennsylvania are hopeful that her experience will be a great fit for the position of Executive Director. Ms. Mutchler’s role will require her to meet with government leaders, as well as citizens to ensure that there is fairness in open records.

For more information about and links to Pennsylvania public records, visit the Free Public Records Directory.

Are you concerned that a criminal is in your neighborhood?  Or perhaps you’ve seen someone participating in suspicious activity.  Reviewing the Most Wanted pages can be a great way to set your mind at ease, or help your state and country apprehend dangerous criminals.  People on the Most Wanted list include bank robbers, extortionists, kidnappers, murders, and terrorists.    Providing information that leads to an arrest of a dangerous criminal can also result in substantial rewards, sometimes into the millions of dollars.   

The Federal Government maintains a list of Most Wanted criminals on the FBI website.  However, most states also have their own list of Most Wanted criminals.

Most Wanted lists provide detailed information of the crime(s) committed, and if names and pictures of the Wanted are available, then this information is available as well.  The FBI site, as well as many state run websites, provides direct access to a list of the Most Wanted criminals.  However, some states, such as Delaware have online systems that require the submission of a name to determine if that person is on the Most Wanted list.  Also, while some states maintain their own Most Wanted list, the majority of states are grouped into divisions run by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  For example, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are all part of the DEA’s New Orleans Field Division.

For more information and to find direct links to online listings of the Most Wanted criminals in your state, visit the Free Public Records Directory and click on your state of interest.