Pennsylvania Court Says Autopsy Records are Public

In a significant public records victory for two state newspapers, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Thursday that autopsy records should be available to the public.

Reversing a lower court decision, the high court found that autopsy reports are indeed official records or papers subject to disclosure, though trial courts still have judicial discretion over the material in some cases.

The Morning Call of Allentown and The Express-Times of Easton both sued Lehigh County coroner Scott Grim after he refused to disclose the autopsy reports for a slain Easton police officer, whose death was ruled a homicide, according to court records.

Read more at RCFP.org.

Conflict Arises Over State's Fees for Public Records

Gov. Ed Rendell issued a directive that allows state agencies to charge a reasonable fee for searching and retrieving documents after the revised open records law fully takes effect on Jan. 1.

The directive also allows agencies to charge for redacting non-public information from copies of requested government documents.

Fate of Open-Records Law May Hinge on House Vote

A proposed overhaul of Pennsylvania's antiquated open-records law is on ice , awaiting a House vote that could send it on to the governor or prolong the debate for months.

The measure is considered the most likely reform bill to emerge from this Legislature.

The fundamental issue , balancing the public's right to know with an individual's right to privacy , was settled months ago. Lawmakers agreed that most government records should be open to the public, and to require agencies that keep records secret to justify their actions.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20080202_ap_fateofopenrecordslawmayhingeonhousevote.html

Washington County, Pennsylvania Database of Current Inmates

Look up inmates using their first/last name:

http://publicrecordswire.com/resources/show/washington-county-pa-inventory-of-inmates

York County, Pennsylvania Male/Female Inmate Lookup

Look for inmates by viewing Males or Females.

http://publicrecordswire.com/resources/show/york-county-pa-search-for-inmate

Franklin County, Pennsylvania Population of Inmates

View the inmates in Franklin County, PA:

http://publicrecordswire.com/resources/show/franklin-county-pa-inmate-population

Mifflin County, Pennsylvania Inmate Locator

Find an inmate using the Mifflin County Inmate Locater:

http://publicrecordswire.com/resources/show/mifflin-county-pa-inmate-lookup

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Head Count of Inmates

You can view inmates alphabetically by last, first and middle initial.

http://publicrecordswire.com/resources/show/dauphin-county-pa-inmate-head-count

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Listing of Current Inmates

Locate inmates using their first/last name or jail ID number.

http://publicrecordswire.com/resources/show/lancaster-county-pa-current-inmate-record

Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Inmate Resource

The listing for inmates in Armstrong County, PA:

http://publicrecordswire.com/resources/show/armstrong-county-pa-index-of-inmates