Accountability & Trust
A government by the people, for the people can only exist when members of the public are able to freely participate in civic life and make their voices heard. Democracy requires transparency from our officials and the ability to meaningfully obtain information about and weigh in on important government decision-making. The Open Public Records Act, or OPRA, is all about making sure the public can see government records. It's in place to boost openness and hold our government accountable. We must remember that the overall purpose of OPRA is to provide the checks and balances necessary to maintain a free and open society.
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Here's a quick run-through of the Open Public Meetings Act:
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Who it's for: OPRA is aimed at all state, county, and city public groups in NJ, including public universities, colleges and local school districts. They've got to share their records, unless they're exempt.
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What you can see: OPRA considers nearly all information held by public agencies as "government records". That's a wide range including documents, maps, tapes, emails, and more.
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What's off-limits: Some records don't have to be shared. This includes stuff like criminal investigation files, victim records, trade secrets, employee details, and lawyer-client privileged info.
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How to ask: If you want to see records, you've got to send a written request to the agency's Records Custodian. Be as clear as you can about what you're after.
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Response time: Agencies have seven workdays to fulfill your request, say "no", or ask for more time. No reply is treated as a "no", and you can appeal that decision.
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Appeals: If your request is denied, you can appeal to the New Jersey Government Records Council or the Superior Court.
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Why is OPRA so important?
Well, it’s all about keeping the government transparent and accountable. By letting the public access records, we all get a clearer view of what our government is up to. So, it’s vital to use it and keep pushing for transparency. OPRA is just one tool to support the pillars of our democratic society: accountability, transparency, and citizen engagement.
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