Internet makes records open to public

In almost every situation -- outside the area of national security and state secrets -- openness is generally the best policy.

Missouri, ahead of the federal government, realizes this.

For the past two years, the Show Me State has lived up to its name by making the most of its circuit court information available online with its new record system, Missouri Case.net.

Racial profiling is a touchy subject, but Missouri makes reports on that very subject available on the attorney general's Web site.

More recently, the Missouri Press Association, Police Chiefs Association and the attorney general's office designed a model incident report form for law enforcement agencies.

That will make it clear for police what information should be open to the public. Some agencies don't have any guidelines. Almost everyone agrees, even police, that getting information to the public in a timely manner is important.

Missourians will even soon be able to get their hands on online data about crimes occurring in our communities with a new Uniform Crime Report Web site. Cities, counties and university campuses across the state are required to file detailed monthly reports to the Missouri State Highway Patrol to be eligible for federal grant money to fight crime.

It will not only make the information readily available to state residents, police officers across Southeast Missouri said seeing the data compiled together helps them understand crime issues better and where resources and attention should be focused.

Besides, policies against openness risk damaging the public's confidence in such agencies. Many police officers like keeping information out of the shadows. As one officer put it, "Everyone benefits when the public knows how you do your job. A more informed public is more satisfied."

Well put.

But Missouri's openness extends beyond the realm of public safety.

In Florida, known for its openness to the media, reporters weren't allowed to photograph or even know where its public health care workers were getting their smallpox vaccines.

In Missouri, reporters have been allowed to sit in, watch some of inoculations and even observe the nurses as they discover along with the rest of us what it's like to get a smallpox shot.

All of these policies are good for Missouri. As one expert on open records put it, openness makes citizens more interested in government. It also puts pressure on those providing the records to make sure they're accurate because the public will know immediately if it's wrong.

Open government is such a fundamental key to the success of our republic. Missouri seems to understand that. Other states should follow our lead.

Web address for Missouri Case.net:

casenet.osca.state.mo.us/casenet/