Public records are pieces of information that can be used as a primary source and are open to the public.
The State of Illinois holds a total population of 12,869,257 on July 1,
2011, according to the United States Census Bureau. The state of Illinois is located in the Midwest Region of the United States of America. Illinois State has a fast growth production of their agricultural products both presently in the central and northern part. Most of Illinois
Public Records can be viewed by the public and some cannot be publicy viewed. This is due to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act that was granted on the year 1996. It allows the residents to gain access on their own personal vital records.
There are various types of public records and these are criminal records, census records, real estate appraisal records, court dockets, voter registration, legislation minutes, professional and business licenses, consumer protections information, government spending reports and sex offender registration files. These public records are pieces of information that gives out information of a certain individual. An individual has the right to choose if their record is to be publicized or to be kept confidential.
Freedom of Information Act was enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 4, 1996. This act permits people for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the American government. There are certain records kept confidential, these kinds of record are protected from disclosure by Federal or State law and they hold certain limitation on records.
Anyone can file a Freedom of Information Act request. The request is available and sent in any local public body. A letter must first be written with complete information of the requester such as full name, recent address, date, primary contact number and including the list of what record the requester is requesting. Freedom of Information Act requests are given within five or more business days after the request is received by the office clerk. Take note that the date that the request was received by the public does not count as day 1. The office clerk notifies the requester of the statutory reasons for any extension and when the requested information will be produced.
There is no charge for the first fifty pages of black and white, letter or legal sized copies of requested record. For additional copies it will cost the requester no more than fifteen cents per page. It will cost no more than seven dollars for colored copies and beyond the normal free size copy.
Information about a certain record that is available to the public is available in electronic format and paper format. Freedom of Information Act specifies Public Records as all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business.
