Legal Hotline

Q: We encourage our reporters to record interviews for accuracy, with interviews typically recorded over the phone or internet, and sometimes in person. Are there any legal issues associated with […]

Q: Which rules govern public access to arrest and search warrants and their supporting documentation, like complaints and affidavits of probable cause? A: Public access to arrest and search warrants […]

Q: Are police dash and body camera videos public records under the Right-to-Know Law? A: No, these records are not subject to public access under the RTKL. Act 22 of […]

PNA Election Guide: Access to Polling Places, Vote Computation, and Records Q: With the primary quickly approaching, what should our reporters know about access to polling places, voter information and […]

Q: I’d like to review emergency time response logs from our county dispatch center related to fire, police and EMS. When I asked for access, the dispatch chief said 911 […]

Q: A reader called to complain about a contractor ad that appeared in our paper and on our website. The ad did not contain a contractor registration number, and the […]

Q: Many local agencies routinely take a 30-calendar-day extension, usually for legal review, to respond to Right-to-Know Law requests, even for simple, obviously public records like meeting minutes. Should they […]

Q: What are some of the issues we need to consider when reviewing political advertising? A: Financing, required disclosures, timing, rates and defamation issues arise in the context of political […]

Q: My reporting focuses on data, and I routinely request complex data sets like GIS records from public agencies. Several agencies have given me fee estimates based on market rates, […]