Why Retain & Maintain Public Records?

Journalistic Purposes

• Public records are often used by journalists when they need to find information on governmental and public actions. Public records allow journalists to write investigative reports and articles.
  
  

Governmental Purposes

• Governmental agencies use public records to keep track of actions they have performed and decisions they have made so that they can go back to these records later, if they need to do so.
  
  

Public Uses

• The National Sex Offender Registry informs people of whether they have a sex offender in or close to their neighborhood. People can also use criminal records to find out if their neighbors or potential business partners have committed crimes, according to the Records Project. Many people use public telephone records to locate or get in touch with others or birth records to find their parents if they are adopted.
  
  

Professional Uses

• Companies and landlords often look at potential employees' or renters' criminal records to determine if they have committed a felony or another crime, according to Employeeissues.com.
  
  

Historical Purposes

• Public records, including court decisions, deeds, marriage licenses and other records, can be used to show a family's or town's history.