Over the last two years, the ground beneath us has begun to shift when it comes to accessing government records in New York, particularly those related to policing. Some of these movements have been seismic. Others have been more subtle. But the result is unmistakably clear: New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) is transforming. And whether you are a member of the media, a FOIL officer for a public agency, or even a criminal defense attorney, you should be aware of the progression of changes.
FOIL and §50-a
New York adopted FOIL in the 1970s “under the premise that the public is vested with an inherent right to know and that official secrecy is anathematic to our form of government.” Fink v. Lefkowitz, 47 N.Y.2d 567, 571 (1979).
