Social Networking and Open Record Issues

摘要

Maintaining an agency Facebook page, like it or not, is a necessary part of community rela-I tions. The majority of our citizenry are active Face-book users - communicating via Facebook and Twitter is the new normal in this country. It's time to accept it, and most law enforcement agencies have. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, more than 65 percent of agencies have made the leap into social networking. In previous columns, the dangers of social networking have been outlined - the risks of having an officer's inappropriate personal Facebook page linked to the agency one, the potential for supervisor liability, the issues about updating and interacting with users, etc. One area that is now of concern for law enforcement agencies is the Open Records / Open Meetings implications of maintaining a Facebook page. While every state has their own Sunshine Laws, here are some tips that should help you satisfy the requirements to remain open and accessible.