Groups Weigh In on Proposed Ohio Court Record Privacy Rules

Sue Altmeyer, Electronic Services Librarian, sue.altmeyer@law.csuohio.edu | January 07, 2008 – 18:33

Gongwer News Service reports on the comments various groups have made to the proposed Ohio Superintendence Rules on court records. Groups Seek Changes in Proposed Rules for Court Records, Want Ban on Bulk Sale of Criminal Data to Business, Gongwer News Service, Volume #76, Report #252, Article #01, December 26, 2007. The Ohio Justice & Policy Center asked the Supreme Court to eliminate or modify provisions which allow the bulk sale of criminal records to businesses that conduct background checks. The Center feels allowing bulk sales will defeat the purpose of expungement laws, unless the background check businesses are required to keep their records up to date.

The Ohio Banker’s League urged a system whereby dockets would be accessible online to everyone, but only certain persons or entities with passwords could look at online copies of the actual documents filed. The article also summarizes comments made by news organizations, the ACLU, the State Medical Board and background check companies.

See our prior post: Proposed Superintendence Rules Regarding Access to Court Records