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Did Jimmy Kimmel Steal our Map?

We’ve been huge fans of Jimmy Kimmel since the days of “The Man Show” and “Win Ben Stein’s Money”.  So we were a bit shocked when we saw the 3 minute bit Jimmy ran:

 

Notice that map? That’s our map:

map2

 

Hey Jimmy – What Happened to our Logo?

This isn’t the first time Jimmy has been accused of stealing jokes. Last month, Jimmy allegedly stole a whole bunch of jokes from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Oscars. Judah Friedlander also accused Kimmel of stealing a joke.

So I guess we’re not surprised – just saddened. Jimmy literally took the extra effort and completely got rid of our logo or any mention of us.

Since this isn’t the first, second, or even third time, we made a little rap sheet for Jimmy.

Check it out:

 

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We’re not like Jimmy either – that beautiful, royalty free image was taken by Romina Espinosa. Romina, whoever and wherever you are, we’d love to hear the story behind that picture!

Finally – Jimmy and team: Our lawyer says we have a pretty good case. We’re still thinking about it. But we’ll let bygones be bygones if you and Guillermo  sing I’m Sorry, So Sorry  to the backgroundchecks.org team. No need to ask us – just go ahead, do it, and upload to your YouTube channel.

 

 

 

Cyber Bullying: Helping the Bullied, Stopping the Bullies

 


Introduction

Children and teens, who are just learning to navigate social relationships, often find themselves in social situations that are fraught with awkward exchanges. When the line between normal, even acceptable, playful teasing crosses into bullying, problems arise. It’s often difficult for them, and even adults, to discern when teasing becomes bullying, and when a laughing together becomes laughing at someone else’s expense.

Simply put, bullying can be boiled down to unwanted social attention. While it can be subtle or blatant; take place online, or in public; be physical or aggressive; there are a few characteristics that can help define bullying.

What Defines Bullying?

RIP is a good mnemonic to help remember the key elements of defining bullying behavior:

Repetition

Bullying is repetitive, especially after the bullied person has asked for it to stop; thus, the bully is aware that s/he is causing the bullied person(s) physical/emotional discomfort, and furthering the power dynamic. Additionally, bullying is often focused, repeatedly, on the same person, or groups of people.

Power

Bullying is done with the intent of hurting others. This can be physically, or emotionally. A bully is fully aware that they are hurting their targets, and do it anyway.

Intent

In general, a bully (or group of bullies) is in a position of social, or physical, power over the person(s) s/he is bullying. The misconception about bullying is that it’s done only by (a) physically strong person(s), or a popular person(s).

For more on the definition of bullying, see the American Psychological Association, Stop Bullying.Gov, or the National Bullying Prevention Center.

What are Typical Behaviors of Bullies?

Bullying behaviors can range from anything to excluding others from social groups, to physical aggression. It is a wide range that includes verbal, social and physical behaviors. For example, verbal, physical and social behaviors are all included in the definition of bullying.

Physical Bullying

Physical Bullying can range from intimidation, threats, and assault. Bullies can resort to any form of violence, such as pushing, kicking, punching or other such examples.

Childhood Example: A child pushes another child down, and steals his toy, or swing, at the playground.

Teen Example: One teen accidentally-on-purpose bumps into another in the hallway, between classes, spilling his books and papers.

Daven, who was bullied as a child, tells Parents and Teens Against Bullying.org, that the constant physical abuse that he endured from his bully, such as flicking, punching, and even having his bully’s snot wiped on him, was humiliating. He describes the effect of this time as isolating, and full of self-doubt, and that like most victims of bullies, he regrets not involving an adult. Daven lived to tell his tale, and recognize that, in his words, “bullying is the weak choice,” but, according to a Yale University study, bullied victims are up to 9% more likely to consider suicide; and, in the UK, some studies have linked up to half of youth suicides to bullying.

 Verbal/Social Bullying/Relational Bullying

Verbal bullying includes harassment in the form of teasing and taunting, such as name calling, manipulation, and spreading false rumors. According to StopBullying.gov, this is meant to destroy the victim’s reputation. Perhaps, most painful, relational and social bullying is also about socially isolating a victim, and making him/her feel like they don’t belong to their peer group.

Childhood Example: You are a poopie pants! You can’t play with us because you smell bad! We don’t play with poopie pants!

Teen Example: A group of girls stops talking as soon as Jennifer approaches. Jennifer, until a few weeks ago, considered those girls her best friends. She asks what their plans are for the weekend, and the girls exchange glances with one another, snicker, and one girl replies, “um, nothing you’d want to do.” The rest of the girls laugh. Jennifer walks away, and the girls immediately start talking and laughing again.

An Anonymous girl shares that her social isolation lead to her eventual need to be home-schooled, via a cyber-program. She says that it all started with a group of girls and a rumor that spread like wildfire; the anonymous victim lost all of her friends, and became increasingly isolated by her bullies. Still, she was not at peace, because her bullies created false social media accounts to leave cruel and taunting messages and comments on her social media pages. She wasn’t safe from their isolation, even in isolation. Ultimately, when she returned to school, her bullies weren’t finished with her. She tried to stand up for herself, but to no avail. Not unlike many bullying situations, this one doesn’t simply end; it trails on and on, highlighting administrative need for no-contact and knock-it-off policies.

Online Bullying

Online bullying consists of harassing a victim through social media, text message, email and other messaging systems. It also includes using a school’s online resources, or false online accounts to destroy a person’s online reputation.

Childhood Example: Depends on the social media access a child has.

Teen Example: Nice bathing suit. Ever hear of a diet? Or the gym?

There is almost no end to the examples of online bulling stories in the media these days. For example, Hannah Smith, was taunted mercilessly regarding her weight, skin condition, and even a death in her family, on the messaging site Ask.fm, for weeks leading up to her suicide in 2013. Or, there is the story of Grace K. McComas, who was cyberbullied for months leading up to her suicide in 2012.

Online Bullying – Sexually Explicit Subcategory

Online bullying may have a sexual component, such as blackmail, as the bully may have access to compromising information or explicit content. The misconception is that the teen always sends the compromising material to the bully themselves. This isn’t always the case; and even if it were, it doesn’t, or shouldn’t matter. For example, in the case of Erin Andrews, the TV Sportscaster and personality who was famously involved in the “peephole” video and subsequent cyber-bullying saga, she was videotaped, in the nude, in her hotel rooms, as she traveled for work, without her knowledge over the course of several years. Her life and career was nearly destroyed by a bully, and she continues to endure cyberbullies who tweet and message her regularly about the incident. Often, teens have photos (or videos) taken of them in bathrooms, through windows, or when they are unconscious. The very real pain at the loss of reputation, coupled with the mockery from peers, can be devastating.

Take the suicide of Jessica (Jesse) Logan, a typical, otherwise happy high school senior from Ohio, who sexted a nude to her boyfriend. They broke up, and he cruelly sent the photo to everyone at their school. She tried to soldier on, but her grades dropped, she started skipping school, and to make it through the day, she’d hide in the bathroom to avoid the students who were calling her a slut, and a whore. She even tried to make the best of a bad situation, going on a local news program as a victim’s advocate for cyberbullying, hoping to prevent something similar from happening to someone else. But, after attending the funeral for someone else, another suicide, Jesse came home and hung herself in her closet.

Who are Most Targeted for Bullying

Bullying can seem random, sometimes; but current research shows that nearly a quarter of students report being bullied. There is some data to suggest that certain types of students are at more risk for bullies than others, and certain personalities are more at risk for being bullies than others.

Students who are more likely to be bullied are generally perceived as “different” than their peers. LGBT youth, and those with disabilities, are especially at risk. However, these, and others, are protected under the law, from such provocation. For example, race, religion ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation and disability are all protected classes, under national law. Schools should all be versed on law, and have policies in place to protect these students, should conflicts arise.

Aside from the general idea of those who are less popular than the “in crowd,” students who simply don’t get along well with others, appear anxious, or are unable to defend themselves against provocation are easy targets for bullies. Of course, those who look different than others are always targets for bullies as well; this means that those who are overweight, or who dress differently, or wear their hair in a different fashion. None of the above list will necessarily guarantee that someone will be harassed, but it will certainly not help, if a bully is out to get them.

Often, educators focus on the victims of bullying, and fail to identify the types of students who can become bullies, and therefore don’t intervene before there’s a potential problem. But, it’s equally important to help the bully; according to the Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 60 percent of boys who were bullies in middle school had a criminal conviction by 24. Shockingly, 40 percent had three or more convictions.

Bullies are born from students who are not only overly-concerned with social status, but also with dominance over their weaker peers to bolster, or mask, their own self-esteem issues. Bullies that turn to physical aggression, not surprisingly, often have issues with violent behavior, and with following rules and standards, and often “hang” with the wrong crowd. Perhaps most importantly, according to a University of Washington and Indiana University Study, administrators may be able to spot them early and intervene, by noting that bullies are far more likely to come from troubled and violent homes.

Cyber Bullying

Definition of Cyberbullying:

The same qualities of repeated, intentional, and social/psychological power plays are involved with cyberbullying. The only difference is that the bullying takes place via electronic mediums such as cell phones, computers or other electronic devices. Cyberbullying can be threatening text messages, e-mails; or, it can even rumors or information posted on public, social media sites or message boards. It can take place exclusively online; or, bullies can combine cyberbullying with traditional bullying.

Cyberstalking

It’s easy to confuse cyberbullying with cyberstalking, especially because we often hear these words used interchangeably, sometimes. It’s especially easy to become confused because cyberbullying has an element of stalking to it: the relentless messaging, the social media pages, and the ability to track the victim, online.

However, cyberstalking is a bit different. Cyberstalking is a repetitive, malicious vendetta often with no legitimate purpose, ironically against a very personal target, carried out with premeditation and obsessive zeal. Cyberstalkers disregard all warnings to stop their illegal activity, and reasonable reasons to stop (like that they are causing distress to another human being).

How is Cyberbullying Different?

Cyberbullying is, in many ways, different than “typical” bullying. Cyberbullying is primarily psychological, as it’s perpetrated through social manipulation and intimidation via messaging and interference with one’s social status through message boards and groups. The primary, and most important, difference between cyberbullying, and traditional bullying, is that it can, and often does, occur 24-hours a day. Cyberbullying takes the “repetition part of bullying to the extreme.

Victims have no respite, or safe place, from their bullies. If they are being bullied on their cell phones, their message beep can go off, even in the safety of their bedroom, even when they are asleep. If they are gaming, involved in a safe community of peer players, it can quickly be infiltrated by bullies who attack them with brutal messages, or ostracization.

Another major difference with cyberbullying is that the “power” may not be the same typical social or physical imbalance that a typical bully has over their victim. Instead, a cyberbully may have access to virtual information, such as an “incriminating,” message, e-mail, or photograph that the victim doesn’t want anyone else to see. This is still an imbalance of power, but not in the traditional sense. It changes the power dynamic, and makes power somewhat of a grey area in the bully/victim relationship, as the bully may have access to this information because they were formerly close, or even intimate, with their victim.

Cyberbullying and Sex

Worst of all, much of cyber bullying, especially among older students, is sometimes sexually motivated, or sexually graphic. Even if untrue, cyber bullying can spread false rumors, ruining reputations through social groups. While the CDC reports that sexual promiscuity among teens is down, with an average of less than 30% of teens having engaged in sexual activity in the previous three months, 21% of those surveyed had been drinking or doing drugs, prior to sexual activity. With inhibitions lowered, photos, texts and videos are a problem.

The subjects of the new Netflix document documentary, Audrie and Daisy (2016), are teenage girls who both admit to drinking more than they normally would one night. These girls learn the hard way that the boys they thought they trusted to care for them at their worst are only lying in wait for their weakest moments, snapping photos of them as they disrobe them, probe their nude bodies, and then spreading videos, texts or rumors around their respective schools. Audrie’s will doesn’t withstand the torturous rigor of the texts, emails and constant shaming she feels at the loss of her reputation; she commits suicide. Daisy attempts to kill herself several times, especially when she learns that her perpetrators will not face sexual assault charges, and she’s called a liar and a whore by her fellow students, former friends via text and message, relentlessly.

However, not all victims of cyberbullying find online contact distressing. In fact, according to the Second Youth Internet Safety Survey, 38% of students weren’t bothered by being harassed online. It was only when online harassment crossed into offline harassment as well, did they feel upset by e-bullying.

Importance of Cyberbullying

Estimates of victims of cyberbullying vary; some studies find as many as 40% of students have reported incidents of cyberbullying. According to the CDC, 15% of high school students have reported being electronically bullied, in the past year; and, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics, 7% of students between grades 6-12 experienced cyber-bullying. Noting that cyberbullying appears to more than double, when restricted to high school students, but is reported early, begs intervention and knowledge regarding how students are engaging, and how to intervene as early as possible.

Cyberbullying.org conducted a study that made it especially clear to students what the definition of cyberbullying is. They told students that cyberbullying meant “repeatedly mak[ing] fun of another person online, or repeatedly pick[ing] on another person through email or text message; or when someone posts something online about another person that they don’t like.” With this definition, about 25% of 10,000 randomly selected 11-18 year olds reported that they’d been cyberbullied (over the past seven years); but only 12% in the past year (January 2014). 17% admitted to cyberbullying others in the past seven years; and only 4% admitted to bullying others in the past year.

This data tells us that while we may have been behind, figuring out this arena where students have been harassing their peers, programs and procedures that are designed to target and reduce it, are working. Therefore, we need to continue to both recognize and highlight cyberbullying as a problem, and we need to work toward positive and effective solutions to eliminate it.

Identifying Cyberbullying

Identifying cyberbullying starts by realizing that you need to look for both victims and bullies. Unlike traditional bullying, victims and bullies share some similar behaviors, such as hiding their phone screens from teachers, quickly minimizing computer browser windows from adults, or refuses to discuss their online activity with adults (or others). However, victims and bullies do behave differently in other ways.

 Identifying Cyberbullies

  • Seems to have multiple accounts, or access to others’ accounts
  • Uses electronic devices at all hours of the day, especially (and including) at night
  • Expresses inappropriate anger at limits on electronic device usage

 Identifying Cyberbully Victims

  • Generalized increase in anxiety, depression or frustration
  • Increased anger, frustration or depression after using electronic media
  • Refusal to talk with parents or teachers about online activities
  • Stops using electronic devices
  • Withdrawal from social, or even home, activity

In this video, despite some of the out dated technology, we see many the examples of a “typical,” cyberbully, and a “typical,” cyberbullying victim. The bully makes attempts to socially isolate the victim, makes him feel socially inferior, and is cruel. The victim withdraws at home, seems sad and refuses to discuss his problem with his mother, quickly hiding all evidence.

Identifying Cyberbullying Culture

According to recent data, students are less likely to report cyberbullying when their school promotes a climate with safe peer-to-peer relationships, and a generally safe environment. Currently, there is not enough research on this nebulous topic; but according to Cyberbyullying.org, students who agreed with statements such as, “feel[ing] safe at school,” feel[ing] that teachers at their school really try to help them succeed,” and “feel[ing] that teachers at their school care about them,” were less likely to report either being victims of cyberbullying, or being cyberbullies themselves. The good news, is that while incidents of cyberbullying are up more than 50 percent in the last five years, nearly 70 percent of students who felt harassed sought help from a trusted friend, parent, or other adult authority figure, leaving room for trusted practices to work.

If You See Something, Say Something

There’s no room for bystanders in bullying. With over 80% of teens using a cell phone, it’s difficult to catch; but, that’s why it’s important for adults to be engaged in the lives of young people and adolescents. Ask questions. Be involved. Notice when things are different. Quite simply: pay attention. And remember, bystanders are victims too. Bystanders report symptoms of anxiety, guilt and shame associated with incidents of bullying.

How to Help in a Cyber Bullying Situation

There’s a relatively simple list of items/ideas that can help in any cyberbullying situation:

Form Relationships

Be a friend to youth. Or, encourage your children to have an adult friend. It’s okay if your children feel more comfortable confiding in a coach, or teacher; just make sure they feel comfortable confiding in someone.

Talk it Out

Mediation can sometimes help resolve a bullying situation, if it’s a misunderstanding that has blown out of proportion. Attempt a talk-it-out situation carefully, if you engage a trained counselor as a mediator and you are confident that violence won’t escalate.

Go Online

Make sure you visit websites that your children frequent, with them, and learn the ins and outs of the pages. Get to know their online “friends,” and be aware of their online activity. Know when things change.

Teach Them Appropriate Responses

It’s never a good idea to add fuel to a fire; so, teach your children not to respond to cyberbullies. Don’t give them any information, respond to any messages, or let them know that they are bothering you. In many ways, this is not much different than traditional bullying; as emotional as it may seem, leaving it alone, may be the best answer.

Evidence

Despite the grey areas of the laws, cyberbullying and cyberstalking are against the law. While there is some potential shame and fear associated with cyberbullying, especially if it’s related to sexual activity, or rule-breaking such as underage drinking or drug use, it’s vital that kids and teens are instructed to never delete any harassing messages.

Report

All online services, such as Facebook, or even Craigslist, have reporting services to report unauthorized, or inappropriate usage, and cyberbullying. Without screenshots and evidence, it’s almost impossible to enforce their policies, however. Utilize their reporting services, and provide them with the evidence you’ve saved to quickly put an end to “small” incidents of cyberbullying.

Utilize Law Enforcement

Most schools have resource officers; engage them, and make sure they are aware of incidents of cyberbullying among the students in their purview. More importantly, make sure that they are aware of the laws that govern cyberbullying in their state, and how to enforce them. Resource officers are specially trained to deal with students and adolescents; sometimes, simply allowing the resource officer to intervene is enough to scare the cyberbully into stopping, rather than engaging criminal charges. However, if activity continues, or if harassment is especially malicious, engage the entire team and report activity to the local and state authorities.

Knock-it-Off Policy and No-Contact

If the bullying is especially pervasive or violent, and as such is affecting the learning environment, it is important to make sure that students are supervised and kept apart as much as possible, both to protect their safety, and to keep other students from being affected. It’s important to make sure that the situation is left to fizzle, rather than ignite. An adult can be provided to walk a student to class, to sit nearby, but not necessarily with the student, in the cafeteria, for example.

Appoint Staff at Every Level

An anti-bullying task manager or team manager should be assigned at the elementary through high school level to work with faculty, administrators, counselors and staff to be kept abreast of all new information in the field, and to have “boots on the ground,” as it were, with the students. Engage a staff member who cares about bullying, stopping it, and about student mental health.

Recognize Limits of “Zero-Tolerance” Programs

Zero-tolerance sounds good on paper, and it sounds good to parents; but, for kids it can sound scary and it can make them afraid to report bullying for fear of reprisal, perhaps even fearing that they may be disciplined themselves, as part of the bullying scenario. Zero tolerance policies have their merits, but it’s important to recognize their limits when dealing with complex bullying scenarios, adolescents and teens.

Engage Parents

Parents are a valuable resource. In many cases, they will be the ones who will be able to tell you if the student’s eating, sleeping, or behavior habits have drastically changed, which will help sound the alarm to a more serious situation. Additionally, parents are a great resource to help reinforce school policy; as administrators you want them on your team, so listen to their needs and be conscious of them. Their primary concern, and yours, is stopping their child’s hurt.

Engage the Community

Community leaders, especially city and county leaders such as mayors and city council members have taken strong roles in speaking out against anti-bullying. Take the time to engage them in speaking at your school, or in writing letters to your students. Engage your local sports teams, or other civic leaders to form a culture of anti-bullying at your school.

Environment

The best way to prevent bullying, of any kind, is to create an environment where bullying isn’t tolerated or condoned. In an ideal world, this is easy. All students love one another, and everyone gets along. There’s no gossip, everyone’s a star athlete, plays in the school band, and gets straight A’s. But, that’s not how it works. So, StompOutBullying, makes these Top 20 suggestions for “Stomping Out” Bullying in your school:

  1. Don’t laugh
  2. Don’t encourage the bully
  3. Stay at a safe distance, and help the target get away
  4. Don’t become an “audience” for the bully
  5. Reach out and become a friend to a bullying victim
  6. Help the victim in any way that you can
  7. Support the victim in private
  8. If you notice someone being isolated, invite them to join you
  9. Include the victim in some of your activities
  10. Tell an adult if you see bullying, or are being bullied
  11. Encourage your school to participate in bullying or cyberbullying prevention programs
  12. Start a peer mentoring program at school
  13. Raise awareness of bullying and cyberbullying prevention in your community
  14. Teach friends about being more tolerant of others, even if they are different
  15. Ask your school to set up a private box where kids who are bullied can report it, anonymously
  16. Get someone to sponsor a conflict resolution team
  17. Encourage school administrators to adopt Internet-use policies that address online hate, harassment and pornography
  18. Create events in your school and community to raise anti-bullying, and bullying prevention awareness.
  19. Create bullying prevention awareness posters for your school
  20. Stand up and do something when you hear someone making jokes or comments about: someone’s sexual identity, family member(s), weight, clothing, skin color, accent, or disability.

Stomping Out

Sit with Us

Consider allowing the use of smart phones, especially with apps like SitWithUs, an app designed especially for bullied kids, by a teenager, a victim of bullying herself. The app is designed for kids with no one to sit with in the school cafeteria; they can designate themselves as “alone,” and hope that someone else, an ambassador, will see their avatar and invite them to their table, or vice versa. So far, it’s being used in lunchrooms across the country, and even internationally. It prevents kids from being openly rejected, if they stroll up to a table, and try to make a new friend, while simultaneously being invited to be friends with new people. It means never having to eat alone, and never being rejected.

Cyberbullying and the Law

Currently, cyberbullying is covered at the state level. All states have laws covering cyberbullying, but there is a wide range of what is allowable, for prosecution, or what is considered legal, or protected, under the letter of the law. The Cyberbullying Research Center keeps an updated, interactive map of what states have what laws, including those proposed.

Importantly, laws must consider the fact that cyberbullying can occur both on and off campus. So, laws have to be proposed in such a way that educators have to make a determination whether cyberbullying that happens off campus is having a noticeable detrimental effect on the learning environment on campus. To understand the confusion, realize that states either have decided on criminal sanctions, school sanctions, school policy, or an off-campus policy (or a combination of these).

These terms can be confusing, because they all sound so similar.

Sanction

A threatened penalty for disobeying.

Criminal Sanctions

Because cyberbullying (and bullying) can be classified as a crime, it is subject to criminal punishments.

School Sanctions

Schools get to create and adopt their own disciplinary measures and policies.

School Policy

The bullying law requires all states, apart from Montana, to set an anti-bullying policy to both identify behaviors and disciplinary policies.

School Sanctions

In some states, the bullying law gives the school latitude to discipline students in certain appropriate ways.

Off-Campus

As mentioned above, schools are allowed to discipline students for off-campus behavior, if they’ve determined that it disrupts the on-campus learning environment.

California has a “Yes” in all four categories above, for example; as does New Jersey, Louisiana and Pennsylvania and Tennessee. However, states like Wyoming are only 50% yes and 50% no. There are wide variations from state-to-state.

In some cases, felony harassment charges can be brought against cyberbullies; but, there is currently no federal laws against cyberbullying, specifically. The only specific federal laws, are those that can be brought against protected classes, as mentioned in Section 1. Protected classes, such as those with disabilities, LGBT, or minorities should be versed in the following federal laws. School administrators and staff should obviously be equally aware.

Cyberbullying Education

Education and information is part of the answer to stopping cyberbullying. Teaching our kids how to respond to harassment properly, and teaching our kids how not to bully, is a big part of the solution. So, how soon is too soon to teach kids about cyberbullying?

Kid’s Health recommends framing discussions about bullying, in general, as early as Pre-K, in age-appropriate ways. Eyes On Bullying agrees, pointing out that, often, people overlook early childhood years in bullying prevention, because they underestimate both children’s intelligence, and their emotional maturity. Teach InCntrl promotes cyberbullying education for all students across all areas of the curriculum.

Bullying in very young children can look very different, however, with a strong tendency toward subtle bullying for girls and physical bullying for boys. In an example described in their book, Dr. Storey and Dr. Slaby describe a scenario in which a preschool girl, sitting at lunch begins a game in which she questions the children at her table, requiring them to raise their hands for affirmative responses with prompts like, “who likes X, Y, Z.” All of her prompts are things that all children would be sure to respond in the affirmative to, such as candy, movies and the like. But, when she gets to the end of her inquiries, she asks, “and who likes Madeline?” This is the beginning of social bullying.

hey suggest bullying education for children begin as early as preschool with social skills education, while they develop the language skills to express the feelings they are having. It’s important to catch bullying behaviors while they are happening and reappoint them into appropriate social interactions. Story time and circle, or morning meeting time, they suggest, is a good time to use examples and engagement to point out appropriate ways to interact with peers, and to define the line between teasing and taunting.

Additionally, they recommend the key life skills of empathy, problem solving and assertiveness to both address bullying, and to prevent becoming one. To learn empathy, they suggest that students learn to label their feelings and that they learn to compare themselves to others in a way that helps them appreciate their differences. Additionally, helping others to feel better teaches children to feel better about themselves, and helps reinforce the “golden rule.” Problem solving activities, such as team-work, and rudimentary what-if scenarios help preschoolers learn to deal with frustration in a safe environment to build their self-confidence. Assertion activities, such as teaching kids to keep their cool, and role-playing response scenarios, and learning when to ignore and when to get help are important tools for preschoolers to both build their self-esteem, and to understand the complexities of bullying scenarios.

Counseling and Resources for Victims

There are several, national anti-bullying resource centers set up to both provide information, and to direct victims, parents, and educators to required resources. For example, the Victims of Crime Resource Center Hotline is reachable at 1-800-Victims, and through their website. Additionally, The Cyberbullying Research Center provides links to not only report bullying on all major social media sites, but also information and resources to victims, nationwide. StopBullying.gov also provides access to both information and links to both national phone number databanks, and links to local counselors.

StompOutBullying is a national website with a 24-7 web-chat service for teens to find access to help for support about bullying. Trained counselors monitor the chat room to provide support and assistance to teens who are looking for advice. Additionally, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s (AACP) website provides a clearinghouse of both information about bullying and cyberbullying, but also links to resources and links to counseling services in your child’s area.

 Cyberbullying on Social Media and  Popular Websites

New social media sites pop up seemingly every day. And, just as quickly fade away. Keeping up with what your tweens and tweens are doing online, and who they are doing it with, is important to helping them avoid both their being cyberbullied, or becoming one. For example, a newer(ish) social media site, Musical.ly has taken social media by storm, often outranking Snapchat and Instagram in the App Store. Musical.ly, a seemingly harmless video sharing site, where people can lip-sync to their favorite tunes, is no different than other social media sites, in terms of potential for cyberbullying or predatory danger. Privacy and user settings, and parental oversight can go a long way in preventing many dangerous, and harassment situations.

Facebook

While it seems, sometimes, that Facebook set the gold standard for social media, it seems that teens began migrating away from it sometime ago. Still, they have a bullying prevention hub, especially targeted at teens. In their hub is access to a PDF, which includes step-by-step instructions and conversation starter ideas for teens who have found themselves in harassment scenarios.

The first step, is always to unfriend someone who is bothering you, and block offensive people. Of course, if there are false accounts out there, this can become problematic, and like cutting the head off of a hydra, but start there. And, FB warns that blocking is reciprocal, so you won’t be able to see what they post about you anymore, which can make you feel antsy, wondering if, on their page, false information about you is spreading like wildfire, now that you can’t see it anymore. Still, FB warns that the best steps are to stay calm and not to retaliate. They suggest that if there is something you find particularly offensive, you can delete it from the areas of FB that you have access to, but warn to save things you may need as evidence, if required. Additionally, they provide scripts and prompts to start conversations with people about how to calmly approach online bullies.

Interestingly, the provide the opposite side of the scenario. They provide resources for the bully. They consider what it might be like to be approached by a victim, and be blindsided as a bully, perhaps not even aware that they’ve committed an offensive act. They provide advice for the bully and suggest the most appropriate behaviors if you have been told that you’ve done something offensive to another person. For example, they suggest that you take the other person’s feelings into account, before you get angry and offended, and that the first thing you should do is apologize.

Get access to the entire PDF here. There’s also an area with links and suggestions for parents.

YouTube

Block and Delete. The most common advice of any website is going to start with these simple instructions. If you are being bothered by “troll,” especially in an isolated incident, which, on a site like YouTube is the most likely scenario, the first place they advise starting is to delete offending comments, or to ask the user to do so, and block offensive users. YouTube does have specific polices against hate speech; for example, they do not allow violence or hate speech against anyone based on race or ethnic origin, relation, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity. They also have specific policies against setting up fake accounts, “Impersonation,” and any suspicion of such accounts should be reported immediately. YouTube also has very strict policies against Child Endangerment as it applies to depicting sex with minors, so sharing videos of underage children engaged in any sexual activity, is strictly prohibited and should absolutely be reported, especially as it pertains to cyberbullying situations. In these cases, being a bystander is against the law, not only against YouTube policy.

However, the rest of YouTube policy is a little greyer. For example, their policy regarding sexually explicit content is prohibitive when it comes to violent, humiliating or graphic fetish, but is inclusive when it comes to nudity when it is educational, documentary or artistic. Additionally, its graphic or violent content policy is essentially a free pass, so long as its journalistic, and especially if the title is descriptive and/or there is an especially clear warning to viewers.

Threats are taken seriously, and they caution that law enforcement should be engaged immediately; however. But, their policy on harmful or dangerous content, such as videos of drug use or of dangerous “challenges” such as the choking challenge, they deem allowable if the primary purpose is educational, documentary or scientific. Finally, they caution that the best way to avoid anything you don’t want to see is the block and delete button.

Instagram

Because of Instagram’s user settings, and communication settings, it’s particularly easy for cyberbullies to contact, and harass their victims, in various ways. For example, users can add cruel comments and hashtags to user’s photos, or create unflattering photos and attach them to a user’s photo/profile. Instagram has a reporting process for harassment and bullying.

Snapchat

Snapchat’s 10-second-and-it’s-gone makes it both easier, and more difficult for cyberbullies. It allows them to take incriminating photos, sometimes without the victim even realizing it, and send harassment without evidence lasting long enough to be traced. However, with quick knowledge of how to take a screenshot, a victim can track harassment, and there’s a way to stop the onslaught of constant messages. Snapchat has community guidelines, such as no pornography, and protecting someone’s privacy, such as not taking pics without someone else’s knowledge. And, Snapchat’s policy is no screenshots, despite their anti-bullying stance. It’s a nebulous arena. Still, they also have a reporting area; but also recommend a block first policy.

Snapchat does have policies to protect user’s privacy, and to prevent bullying. Primarily, to prevent cyberbullying, they do not allow for invasions of privacy, such as taking snaps of others without their knowledge. Additionally, they don’t allow for impersonation, much like YouTube, which means creating fake accounts, even to impersonate celebrities. Finally, they have a strict no-harassment policy, which means once someone has blocked you, you may not continue to harass them from another account, or from a new account. Their no-nudity policy, especially for those under 18 can contribute to a no-bullying environment by not allowing for embarrassing content, because it even prohibits sexually explicit drawings on otherwise benign snaps.

Twitter

According to both Buzzfeed News, and CIO, Twitter’s refusal to appropriately deal with cyberbullying and online abuse and harassment has drug the social media giant to near death. Twitter promises a revamp and an absolute focus on the issue. Their current advice starts with the same advice as the others: ignore, block and unfollow. They do have a reporting process on their website.

Skype

Skype’s online communities are a great way to meet and befriend all kinds of people, for all kinds of reasons, with all kinds of interests; however, there are all kinds of ways to find trouble when the world is so big. Communities on Skype can often help police themselves, with members reporting to one another when they are having trouble, and using the block and ignore feature. But, like all other social media features, Skype also has a report feature, depending on which interface you are using.

Messenger or Other Forums

Messenger and other chat forums rely on a community standard of “knowing” who you are talking to, rather than primarily stranger interaction, such as YouTube. The best way to avoid harassment is to be engaged with friends and people you are comfortable with, not with strangers. However, like all teens and tweens, social groups change, and falling outs occur, which can spill over into an online community setting. Again, ignore, block and delete when there’s trouble. If there’s evidence, save it. If there’s serious trouble, report it.

Data and Statistics

Much can be drawn from the raw data provided by bullying surveys. The primary data-gatherers on this topic are the CDC, The National Center for Education Statistics, and The Cyberbullying Research Center. Each of these sources compiles and gathers separate, but equally important sets of data that give us vital information.

When looked at, over time, from 2007, through 2016, the rate of reported cyberbullying offenders has declined sharply from 19.1% to 12.0% of students reporting self-reporting; however, the rates also fluctuate significantly from year to year, sometimes as much as 5-7%. Cyberbullying.org compiles data from ten different studies to gather an average of roughly 15.8% students who reported cyberbullying others, across the 9-year study period, with a low of 11.5% reporting in 2009, with an especially low sample class size. Intriguingly, the study compilation shows a sharp decrease in bullies self-reporting in 2009, suggesting that cyber bullying education has been helpful, but then an uptick to outpace 2007 numbers in 2010, and nearly again in 2011. It’s baffling to educators to figure out what works, and what doesn’t, to prevent bullying, when numbers like this present themselves over long spaces of time.

Intriguingly, victimization rates are nearly double the self-reporting rates for bullies, which suggests that either bullies are bullying more than one victim, that victims feel victimized by actions that bullies don’t necessarily feel is bullying, or that bullies are under-reporting. And, unlike the chaotic rise and fall of the bully self-reporting, victimization rates seem on a steady climb since 2007, with the exception of two slight dips in 2010 and 2013. The average reporting rate for victims, compiled over ten studies from cyberbullying.org is 27.9% and includes cyber bullying in all forms, such as e-mail, in the classroom, and over other electronic media.

An interesting comparison to note is the difference between reported victimization rates between middle schoolers and lifetime victimization rates. The rate doubles (or even triples) in almost all cases. This suggest an almost “grace” period in middle school where educators might be able to reach students and target bullying education, before the problem erupts.

Cyber bullying does not appear to discriminate for gender. Unlike other types of bullying where, for example, physical aggression is more typically associated with males, and social aggression is more typically associated with females, cyber bullying is more equally distributed. Both genders appear to be equally associated with cyber bullying behaviors. The disassociated connection with screens makes it easier for both genders to engage with behaviors that they may not otherwise engage in, if they were faced with an individual, making it easier for both genders to engage in cyber bullying behaviors; it’s like it’s simultaneously happening to both a real, and a not-real person.

Subsequently, victims of cyberbullying are also, mostly, equally spread amongst gender. There’s a slightly larger number of reported lifetime female cyber bully victims, but in general, victims are equally spread between male and female, especially amongst the middle school population. This suggests, once again, that the magic moment to reach the student population with cyber bullying education is at the beginning of middle school.

According to cyberbullying.org, middle schoolers use the Internet for a wide variety of purposes, and in descending order, it’s first and foremost for online games and homework, and lastly for chat rooms. Having data like this helps educators fine-tune education programs and gear bullying messages for their students based on what they know their students will be using and where they might be encountering bullying messages.

 Conclusion and Recommendations

Cyber bullying is part of a complex puzzle that, if reduced, improves student performance and success. But, we cannot forget things like the value of parental involvement, drug and alcohol education, other education on other teen behaviors that can affect student life, like sex education. For example, according to the CDC, for example, 10% of teens (over the age of 12) have used illicit drugs in the past month. And, it’s easy to forget, but many students come to school without having eaten a decent meal; in states like Missouri, over 20% of homes have food insecurity, not knowing where their next meal comes from. Alas, cyber bullying is a very important part of a student’s success, but it’s not the only piece of their puzzle.

And, in fact, determining the other pieces, and addressing those, may help suss out the cyber bullying problem. If a student is being bullied for being so-called promiscuous, for example; or, if a student is being bullied because he wears second-hand clothes; or, if a student is being bullied for getting bad grades; it’s obvious that knowing students is helpful. Additionally, having the appropriate district, counseling, and support services is vital to student success in all cases. There is no “stop bullying,” or even “zero tolerance,” in most cases. It is not as simple as enforcing a consequence, or mending a fence; it requires support for the victim, and likely for the bully.

Additionally, based on evidence, bullying education in primary and middle school grades is vital in prevention. As we become more screen-dependent, our children will be versed earlier in technology. Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics’ newly revised, and recently released, guidelines about screen time for young children, parents will continue to expose children to technology at younger ages, until they are practically programming satellites in the crib. If we are to expect our children to understand the limitless joy and knowledge that technology can bring, it is incumbent upon us to teach them the limitless responsibility that comes with it as well, including the responsibility they bear, as in all things, to not cause others pain.

 

 

Ohio Public Records

Ohio started keeping records back in 1789. Back then, records were kept on paper. Some of the first records were property and vital records like those that track births and deaths.

In the 1980s, the state started keeping electronic records and even started transferring old records to electronic ones.

Today, like most states, Ohio has embraced digital records.

Today, citizens of the United States can request Ohio records. You do not need to live in Cleveland, Columbus, or any Ohio city to make a request.

To help people navigate the world of public records, which can be a little confusing, this guide can provide direction to criminal, inmate, court, and inmate records.

Those needing to access records have a right to submit a request through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Every state has different processes, so it’s essential to know the state’s law before requesting any documents.

What does the Ohio public records law say?

Ohio has a unique history compared to other states in that its access to public records predates its actual statehood. A 1901 court decision stated explicitly that the public records are the people’s records, and unless there is a statute in place, the rights of the people to examine their records must remain in practice.

However, it must be noted that in Ohio, there are quite a few statutes that can hamper a public records search.

The Ohio Public Records Act does not provide a specific response time to a records request; it says that the request should be handled within a reasonable period.

If a request for records is denied, there is no administrative appeal process in the state. However, requesters can pay $25 and file a complaint to the Ohio Court of Claims, which has seven days to respond and 45 days to issue a legally binding decision.

To learn more, visit Ohio.gov.

How can I access public records in Ohio?

Some public records can be found online, while others require a more formal request.

If a formal request is necessary, it can occur by mail, email, or phone. It should be directed to the record-holding department.

Every department is different, so expect some variation to the rules if you access records from multiple places.

In general, a public records request should include:

  • Your name
  • Contact information
  • The name of the document
  • Details about the document
  • A time frame that you would like to receive the materials by
  • Document delivery method, mail or email

Ohio Criminal Records

In Ohio, The Identification Division of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation provides the latest records to employers who want to run background checks on potential employees.

The division acts as the central repository for all felony records within the state, maintaining fingerprints, photographs, and other information related to criminal records in Ohio.

What’s on an Ohio criminal record?

A criminal record provides a detailed report of a person’s interactions with law enforcement. These records are compiled from various sources and include arrest records, convictions, and incarcerations within the state’s nine prisons.

More specifically, a criminal record or a background check will provide the following information:

  • Date of birth
  • Photograph/mugshot
  • Fingerprints
  • Case number
  • Current and past addresses
  • Former arrest records
  • Current and past warrants
  • Domestic violence charges
  • Sex offender status

Where can I find Ohio criminal records?

The Bureau of Crime Identification & Investigation (BCI&I), a subsidiary of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, offers WebCheck for civilian background checks.

These checks are relatively quick, taking only a few hours to conduct, with the results available through the U.S. Postal Service. More information is available on Ohio’s WebCheck system.

Requiring a complete set of fingerprints for criminal records, a business check, money order, or e-payment made out to the Treasurer of the State of Ohio for $22 will begin the process.

If you cannot find what you are looking for online, records can also be requested through the Sheriff’s Office in the county where the person lives. Local rules and laws will apply.

The fees associated with a request are minimal, and some offices have no fees for background checks.

Ohio Inmate Records

As the sixth-largest prison system in America, Ohio operates 30 state prisons. It possesses inmate records that comprise personal and official data of those incarcerated by the state and held in Ohio’s jails, prisons, or penal institutions.

The records of each inmate are typically held at the site where the inmate resides and include the following information:

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction maintains inmate records in the state.

What’s on an Ohio inmate record?

The information listed on inmate records varies a bit from state to state; in Ohio, the records usually contain personal information and specific details about a person’s incarceration situation.

Public access to inmate records can provide the following information when accessed:

  • Name and aliases
  • Date of Birth
  • Height and weight
  • DOC ID
  • Booking photo
  • Assigned location
  • Sentence summary

Where can I find Ohio inmate records?

You will use the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Inmate Search to locate the inmate record.

To search for an inmate, input the inmate’s name and unique DOC number.

The website is regularly updated.

You can expect to find the location of a person, the jail’s contact information, inmate status, and any information regarding a release or pardon.

Ohio Court Records

The Ohio Open Records Law passed in 1954 guarantees that court records are available to any public member, thereby making it a fundamental right to all residents of Ohio. The records open to the general public include affidavits, civil case settlements, documentation on allegations, and all proceedings taken under oath.

In a small percentage of cases, court records may be sealed or may have redaction for certain circumstances.

The Office of the Clerk of Courts maintains court records for the judiciary branch.

What’s on an Ohio court record?

In most cases, court records are quite large and come with varying documents.

Most people find these documents the most helpful:

  • Court minutes
  • Case files
  • Court orders
  • Dockets
  • Orders of the court
  • Judgment documentation
  • Jury records and files
  • Witness documentation

Where can I find Ohio court records?

Finding court records in the state of Ohio is fairly complicated. While other states have created an online portal to house and search court records, Ohio has not.

The best way to access court records is to search for the county court or municipal court where the case was heard. Some countries do have records available online.

Example – Franklin County Clerk of Courts
Franklin County Clerk of Courts Records Search
399 S Front St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Phone number: 614-525-5279

If a county doesn’t have an online database, you need to speak with the county clerk or the Clerk of Courts and put in a records request.

The judiciary branch in Ohio includes:

  • The Ohio Supreme Court
  • The Court of Appeals
  • The Common Pleas Court
  • County Municipal Court
  • Court of Claims
  • Mayor’s Court

The Ohio Supreme Court also provides an extensive number of court files online. To begin a search, visit the state’s Supreme Court Website.

Ohio Vital Records

The Vital Statistics Ohio Department of Health maintains vital records in the state.

Ohio’s vital records include:

  • Birth Certificates
  • Death Certificates
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Divorce Decrees

Public record requests for vital records in Ohio will vary depending on the document you are requesting.

Ohio Bureau of Vital Records
Vital Statistics
Ohio Department of Health
P.O. Box 15098
Columbus, OH 43215-0098

Phone number: 614-466-2531

What information do I need to request an Ohio birth certificate?

The Application For Certified Copies will ask for specific information when ordering a birth record.

  • Full name on the birth record
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Parents’ full names

Where can I find an Ohio birth certificate?

You can request a certified copy of an Ohio birth record by completing the Application For Certified Copies and submitting it by mail or in person at your local health department.

The cost of a certified birth certificate in Ohio is $21.50.

What information do I need for a death certificate in Ohio?

The Application For Certified Copies will ask for specific information when ordering a death record.

  • Full name on the birth record
  • Date of birth
  • Date of death
  • Place of death
  • Parents’ full names

Where can I find an Ohio death certificate?

You can request a certified copy of an Ohio death record by completing the Application For Certified Copies and submitting it by mail or in person at your local health department.

The cost of a certified death certificate in Ohio is $21.50.

What information do I need to request a marriage certificate in Ohio?

Individual county probate courts maintain marriage records in Ohio. The forms, fees, and office hours will vary depending on the county where the marriage occurred.

Where can I find an existing Ohio marriage record?

You can request a certified copy of an Ohio marriage record by contacting the Clerk of Courts Office where the event occurred.

Example – Franklin County Probate Court
Franklin County Probate Court Marriage License Index
Marriage License Department
373 S. High Street
23rd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6311

Phone number: 614-525-3108

What information do I need to request a divorce certificate in Ohio?

County Clerks maintain marriage records in Ohio.

The forms will vary depending on the county where the divorce was granted.

Where can I find an existing Ohio divorce record?

You can request a certified copy of an Ohio divorce record by contacting the County Clerk where the divorce was granted.

Clerk Offices have different forms, fees, and regular business hours.

Example – Ohio County Clerk
Ohio County Clerk’s Office website
Room 205
1500 Chapline Street
Wheeling, WV 26003

Ohio Property Records

The County Recorder maintains property records in Ohio.

The property records you can access include:

  • Liens
  • Land records
  • Titles
  • Property deeds
  • Mortgages
  • Property tax assessment records
  • Zoning information
  • Probate

For data, parcel, and tax maps, you will need to contact the Geographic Information System(GIS) to ask about public access.

What information do I need to request property records in Ohio?

You will need basic information to access a public property record.

Forms, fees, and office hours will vary depending on the County Recorder’s Office.

Where can I find an Ohio property record?

You will need to contact the County Recorder where the property record is maintained.

Example – Logan County
Logan County Recorder Online Services
Patricia Myers, Recorder
Logan County Recorder
100 South Madriver Street, Suite A
Bellefontaine, OH 43311

Phone number: (937)599-7201

FAQs

Can a request be submitted by non-residents of Ohio?

There is no requirement of citizenship to place a public records request in Ohio.

Is there a records custodian in Ohio?

Ohio law does not mandate a record custodian.

What exemptions exist for public records requests in Ohio?

All of the public offices within the state of Ohio fall under public records law.

How long does Ohio have to respond to a public records request?

There is no set deadline for a response in Ohio, but agencies typically respond very promptly.

Is there an appeals process in place for public records requests in Ohio?

There is no administrative appeal for the state of Ohio. However, requesters do have the option of filing an appeal in the Ohio Courts of Claim for $25.

Generally, fees associated with the actual materials costs, aside from labor, may be charged according to public records policy.

What fees are associated with requesting public records in Ohio?

The state of Ohio can charge for the cost of materials but does not charge for labor.

US Virgin Islands (USVI) Public Records

Officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, the USVI are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are classified as an organized, unincorporated U.S. territory.  The islands are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles of the Virgin Islands archipelago, and the USVI consists of the main islands of Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John.  Tourism and rum manufacturing are the primary economic activities here, and the territory has a population of approximately 106,00 residents.  While U.S. citizens, those who reside here cannot vote in U.S. elections as the USVI is not a state.  The USVI does make provisions for the sharing of its records with the public.

US Virgin Islands (USVI)  Public Records Laws

Laws covering the sharing of public records in the U.S. Virgin Islands are covered under Title 3 of the Virgin Island Code (V.I.C.)  § 881.  The law states that “every citizen of the territory” has a right to examine and copy all public records.  The purpose of the request does not need to be disclosed, and there are no limitations placed on the use of the records once obtained.

Public records covered under the Code include those of all public agencies in the territory, including the executive and legislative branches.  The courts are not covered by this Code.  Records that are not included, or are exempt, are:

  • Records made confidential by courts or statute
  • Student records
  • Medical records
  • Trade secrets
  • Attorney work product
  • Investigatory reports
  • Property appraisals
  • Elderly and disabled adult abuse records
  • Security-related records


US Virgin Islands (USVI)  Criminal Records, Arrest Records and Background Checks

Background checks are administered by the USVI Police Department Records Bureau.  A police record check can be requested by filling out the proper form.  This is a name-based search and does not require the signed consent of the person being searched.


US Virgin Islands (USVI)  Jail and Inmate Records

The USVI Police Department runs corrections in the territory, and there are two Detention Facilities – one St. Thomas that is classified as medium security and one on St. Croix.  There is not a way to do an online search for offenders in the system, but you can call (340) 778-2211 for information.


US Virgin Islands (USVI) Court Records

There are two separate court websites in the USVI, one for the District Court and another for the Superior Court.  Most individuals will be interested in superior court cases as these are the civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, and traffic cases.  There are not really any online court records searches available, but you can turn in a Request for Records Search with the Acting Clerk of the Court for any desired court records.


US Virgin Islands (USVI)  Vital Records

Obtaining vital records in the U.S. Virgin Islands is going to depend on the type of record that you need and the particular island where the event took place.  In all instances, you must prove eligibility to obtain the record, such as being a party listed on the certificate, a parent or legal guardian, or other legal representative.

St. Thomas and St. John

  • Birth Certificates – Birth certificates are available from July 1906 to present.  You can send your completed application and payment to: Department of Health, Vital Statistics, Knud Hansen Complex, St. Thomas, VI  00802.
  • Death Certificates – Death certificates are available from January 1906 to present.  You can send your completed application and payment to: Department of Health, Vital Statistics in St. Thomas.
  • Marriage Certificates – Marriage certificates are available for a $2 fee (money order) from the courts.  There is no available form for this.  You can send your request to:  Clerk of the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands, Family Division, P.O. Box 70, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI 00801.
  • Divorce Certificates – Divorce records are available for a $5 fee (money order) from the courts.  There is no available form for this.  You can send your request to:  Clerk of the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands.

St. Croix

  • Birth Certificates – Birth certificates are available from 1840 to present.  You can send your completed application and payment to: Department of Health, Vital Statistics, Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital, St. Croix, VI 00820.
  • Death Certificates – Death certificates are available from 1840 to present.  You can send your completed application and payment to: Department of Health, Vital Statistics in St. Croix.
  • Marriage Certificates – Marriage certificates are available for a $2 fee (money order) from the courts.  There is no available form for this.  You can send your request to:  Chief Deputy Clerk, Family Division, Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands, P.O. Box 929, Christiansted, St. Croix, VI  00820.
  • Divorce Certificates – Divorce records are available for a $5 fee (money order) from the courts.  There is no available form for this.  You can send your request to:  Chief Deputy Clerk, Family Division, Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands in St. Croix.
  • Updated April 20, 2017
  • States

Puerto Rico Public Records

Located in the northeastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico is a United States territory that consists of the main island and several smaller islands.  Officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, this tropical locale is populated by 3.6 million people and is a popular tourist destination.  First claimed by Christopher Columbus and the Spanish in 1493, the island was ceded to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American War.  Puerto Rico is classified as an unincorporated U.S. territory under the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950.  The territory has a local constitution and its residents are U.S. citizens, but cannot vote in major U.S. elections.  Puerto Rico does make provisions for sharing its records with the public.

Puerto Rico Public Records Laws

 

The main public records act in Puerto Rico is called the Public Documents Administration Act, first passed in 1955 and amended in 2000, which is covered in Laws of Puerto Rico Annotated Title 3 Chapter 41 § 1001.   There are other provisions under Title 3 that also deal with the preservation and supply of public records.  There is also a short statement in Title 32 of the code that states that “every citizen” has a right to take a copy of public records.

Records subject to the Act are any public documents produced in the Commonwealth, and this applies to the executive, legislative and judicial branches.  There is no information on exemptions or exclusions with regards to public documents in this territory.

Puerto Rico Criminal Records, Arrest Records and Background Checks

 

Background checks in Puerto Rico are administered by the Puerto Rico Police Department.  The criminal records checks are name-based checks, and Puerto Rico is now doing these online.   You do need to have an ID issued by the territory, such as a driver’s license, in order to use the system.  In the alternative, you can order a background check in person at the Puerto Rico Police Department, Ave F.D. Roosevelt 601, Cuartel General, San Juan, PR 00936-8166.

Puerto Rico Jail and Inmate Records

 

To learn about the correctional facilities in Puerto Rico, find information about inmates in the system, or get services for victims, visit the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections website.  There is no online search page to locate a specific offender in the system.  For assistance, you can call the Office of Control and Management of the correctional population at (787) 273-6464.

Puerto Rico Court Records

 

Any information on courts in the territory of Puerto Rico can be found on its administrator of the courts website.  The only online search that can be done is to the court calendar.   Specific case files and records requests will need to be made with the clerk of the court in the courthouse where the case was heard.

Puerto Rico Vital Records

Vital records, such as birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, in Puerto Rico are administered by the Department of Health, Demographic Registry.  Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available from June 22, 1931 to present.  Divorce certificates are available from 1941 to present.  You must submit a complete application and show that you are an “interested party” in order to receive a certificate.  This means that you are either listed on the certificate or are an immediate family member, legal guardian, or legal representative.  There are several ways to obtain these documents:

  • In Person:  You can order in person at the Department of Health, Demographic Registry, 141 Barbosa Avenue, Lincoln Building, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00925.
  • By Mail:  Simply download and complete the proper form and return it with copies of required documentation to:  Department of Health, Demographic Registry, P.O. Box 11854, Fernandez Juncos Station, San Juan, PR 00910.
  • Online:  Place your order and payment through VitalCheck.com.

You may also be able to get some divorce records in Puerto Rico from the local courthouse where the original divorce was granted.

Pennsylvania Public Records

Public records are scattered across multiple state agencies and departments, as in most states.

Whether you need a background check on an employee, or you need a copy of a birth certificate so you can get a passport, Pennsylvania makes public records accessible.

While access isn’t restricted, finding and requesting records can be a bit challenging. Records are kept by different branches of government and by various state agencies, so it can be challenging to know where to start looking.

Those needing to access records have a right to submit a request through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Every state has different processes, so it’s essential to know the state’s law before requesting any documents.

What does the Pennsylvania public records law say?

Since it began recording public records in 1775, the state of Pennsylvania has an astounding 100 million public records that the general public has access to. Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law gives all citizens access to public records, but tracking them down can be challenging.

According to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act, anyone can access the public records in the state, and this act covers all three branches of government with only certain court records exempted.

Additional exemptions are listed for personal records, records that could compromise public safety, and documents that contain trade secrets.

As far as response times from agencies are concerned, the state government must respond within five business days.

If a request is denied, there is an appeals process.

A requester can contact the state’s Office of Open Records, which can issue opinions to other agencies. To force records into disclosure, the requester must file a suit in court.

In Pennsylvania, the fees associated with records requests are limited, with agencies only being able to charge for the actual costs of duplicating a record. This is more conservative than some states, which charge for staff time and resources.

A requester can learn more by visiting pa.gov.

How can I access public records in Pennsylvania?

Public records are available online or through a formal records request. If a request is required, it can be delivered by mail, email, or phone to the record-holding department.

Every department is different, so expect some variation to the rules if you’re accessing records from multiple places.

In general, a public records request should include:

  • Your name
  • Contact information
  • The name of the document
  • Details about the document
  • A time frame that you would like to receive the materials by
  • Document delivery method, mail or email

Pennsylvania Criminal Records

In Pennsylvania, criminal records are most commonly accessed by employers who are looking to execute a background check on potential employees.

The Pennsylvania State Police maintains criminal records in the state.

What’s on a Pennsylvania criminal record?

A criminal record provides a detailed history of a person’s interactions with law enforcement. These records are pulled from various sources and include arrest records, convictions, and incarcerations within the state’s four prisons.

The main information you will find on the criminal records is:

  • Date of birth
  • Driver license number
  • Photograph/mugshot
  • Fingerprints
  • Current and past addresses
  • Former arrest records
  • Current and past warrants
  • Sex offender status

Where can I find Pennsylvania criminal records?

Criminal records in Pennsylvania are official documents that contain the details of the illegal activity of a single person and are kept at every level of every jurisdiction – from municipal, county, and state levels.

Criminal records are gathered from all types of criminal courts across the county and state.

The Pennsylvania State Police maintain the records and provide an online database to search. Through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH), requesters can apply for criminal background checks on an individual.

It is also possible to access dispositions on criminal cases by reviewing court docket sheets located on the Pennsylvania Judiciary web portal.

Pennsylvania Inmate Records

Inmate records in Pennsylvania consist of offenders held across the prisons, correctional inmate facilities, parish jails, and other penal institutions throughout the state.

Inmate records may also include information on sentencing, the class of the offense, the parish where a case was tried, and the facility location of the inmate.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains inmate records in the state.

What’s on a Pennsylvania inmate record?

The information listed on an inmate record varies, but in Pennsylvania, the records usually contain personal information and specific details about a person’s incarceration situation.

Public access to inmate records can provide the following information when accessed:

  • Name and aliases
  • Date of Birth
  • Height and weight
  • DOC ID
  • Booking photo
  • Assigned location
  • Sentence summary

Where can I find Pennsylvania inmate records?

You will visit the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to access the inmate record.

Pennsylvania criminal records are organized through online record depositories which can be accessed through the courts, law enforcement agency buildings, or government databases.

The Inmate/Parolee Locator serves as the database which contains information on every inmate and parolee within the state that is currently under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections (DOC). The site is updated on a daily basis to ensure accuracy.

Pennsylvania Court Records

Court records in Pennsylvania include a multitude of information produced through court proceedings.

It’s important to note that court records can be some of the most challenging documents to procure since they are usually held across several courts in Pennsylvania.

What’s on a Pennsylvania court record?

In most cases, court records are quite large and come with several varying documents.

Most people find these documents the most helpful:

  • Court minutes
  • Case files
  • Dockets
  • Court opinions
  • Orders of the court
  • Judgment documentation
  • Jury records and files
  • Witness documentation
  • Case information

Where can I find Pennsylvania court records?

You will visit the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania website to access the court record.

In this state, a public records search for court documents can return information on civil cases, traffic cases, criminal cases, civil records, landlord-tenant cases, and non-traffic cases.

You can search and view individual court case information free of charge by visiting the portal, where you will be able to find the following records:

  • Appellate court case information (Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth court);
  • Criminal courts of common pleas
  • Magisterial district court case information includes:
    • civil court cases
    • county court
    • criminal cases
    • misdemeanor cases
    • traffic cases
    • non-traffic cases
    • landlord/tenant cases

Requesters who wish to order paper case records maintained by a Magisterial District Judges’ office need to speak with someone at the courthouse.

The Magisterial District Clerk of Courts may ask you to fill out a request form for complex requests.

Pennsylvania Vital Records

The Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries maintains vital records in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania’s vital records include:

  • Birth Certificates
  • Death Certificates
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Divorce Decrees

Public record requests for vital records in Pennsylvania will vary depending on the document you are requesting.

Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries – Division of Vital Records
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA.  16103-1528

Phone number: 724-656-3100

What information do I need to request a Pennsylvania birth certificate?

The Application for a Birth Certificate will ask for specific information when ordering a birth record.

  • Full name on the birth record
  • Current age
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Place of birth

Where can I find a Pennsylvania birth certificate?

You can order a Pennsylvania birth certificate online by e-filing using Pennsylvania Online Vital Records Ordering.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a Pennsylvania birth record by completing the Application for a Birth Certificate and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified birth certificate in Pennsylvania is $20.

What information do I need for a death certificate in Pennsylvania?

The Application for a Death Certificate will ask for specific information when ordering a death record.

  • Full name of the deceased
  • Date of death
  • Gender
  • Social security number
  • Age at death
  • Date of birth
  • Place of death
  • Funeral home

Where can I find a Pennsylvania death certificate?

You can order a Pennsylvania death certificate online using Pennsylvania Online Vital Records Ordering.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a Pennsylvania death record by completing the Application for Death Certificate and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified death certificate in Pennsylvania is $20.

What information do I need for a marriage certificate in Pennsylvania?

Marriage records are maintained by Orphan Court Clerks.

Every clerk’s office will have different forms, fees, and office hours.

Where can I find a Pennsylvania marriage certificate?

You must contact the appropriate Clerk’s Office in the judicial district where the marriage license was issued.

What information do I need for a divorce certificate in Pennsylvania?

Divorce records are maintained by Court Clerks.

Every clerk’s office will have different forms, fees, and office hours.

Where can I find a Pennsylvania divorce certificate?

You must contact the appropriate Clerk’s Office in the judicial district where the dissolution of marriage was granted.

Pennsylvania Property Records

The Recorder of Deeds maintains property records in Pennsylvania.

The property records you can access include:

  • Liens
  • Land records
  • Titles
  • Property deeds
  • Real estate information
  • Mortgages
  • Property tax assessment records
  • Zoning information
  • Probate

For data, parcel, and tax maps, you will need to contact the Geographic Information System(GIS) to ask about public access.

What information do I need to request property records in Pennsylvania?

You will need basic information to access a public property record in Pennsylvania.

Request forms, fees, and office hours will vary depending on the Recorder of Deeds office.

Where can I find a Pennsylvania property record?

You will need to contact the Recorder of Deed’s Office where the property record is maintained.

Example – Buck’s County Recorder of Deeds
Buck’s County Recorder of Deeds Public Records
Bucks County Administration Building
55 East Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

Phone number: 215-348-6000

FAQs

Can a request be submitted by non-residents of Pennsylvania?

The Freedom of Information Act gives every citizen the right to perform record searches.

Is there a records custodian in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania public records laws do not mandate a records custodian.

What exemptions exist for public records law in Pennsylvania?

Currently, there are 30 exemptions in Pennsylvania, with 39 statutory exclusions, making it one of the more specific than most states regarding public records laws.

Some of the exempted files include donor information, employees’ private information, trade secrets, expungement, work files of public servants, records that would potentially compromise computer network security, and more.

How long does Pennsylvania have to respond to public records requests?

The state of Pennsylvania has five days to respond to any requests for documents.

Is there an appeals process in place for public records requests in Pennsylvania?

You must get an opinion from the Office of Open Records before you can file an appeal.

What fees are associated with requesting public records in Pennsylvania?

The fees for requesting public records in Pennsylvania are somewhat limited, with agencies only charging for the price of duplicating records.

There may be no charges for reviewing documents or searching for them. Extensive searches may incur more costs if outside professionals are involved.

As for appeals, they are possible, but only after receiving an opinion from the Office of Open Records.

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Michigan Public Records

There are many reasons for people to request public records.

While requesters have many reasons to review public records, it is not always an easy process.

You need to figure out which state department has the records and know how to request them.

Those needing to access records have a right to submit a request through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Every state has different processes, so it’s essential to know the state’s law before requesting any documents.

What does the Michigan public records law say?

The state of Michigan has a broad approach to the application of their records, with many offices in the legislature covered, while some individual members are exempt.

Aside from state-funded universities, any private entity operating with public funding is subject to the law.

What qualifies as a “record” in Michigan is also slightly broader than in other states, but in general, this includes just about anything written and recordings; computer programs are also included.

You do not have to be a citizen of Michigan to access public records. However, currently incarcerated individuals do not have access, no matter which state they are incarcerated in.

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act does not expressly say how long a public agency has to respond to a records request other than saying the agency should respond “promptly” and be within a week.

There are no administrative appeals allowed whatsoever, which means if a request is denied, you will have to take your fight to court.

To learn more about Michigan’s rules and how to access records, visit Michigan.gov.

How can I access public records in Michigan?

Some public records can be found through online services.

In contrast, others must be requested from a specific agency using a formal request. If a request is required, it can be sent via email, mail, or phone to the record-holding department.

Every department is different, so expect some variation to the rules if you access records from multiple places.

Michigan Criminal Records

Criminal records in Michigan are straightforward due to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

All criminal activities committed by individuals within the state are electronically kept, printed, and filed.

The Michigan State Police maintains criminal records in the state.

What’s on a Michigan criminal record?

A criminal history record provides a detailed record of a person’s interactions with law enforcement. These records are pulled from various sources and include arrest records, convictions, and incarcerations within the state’s four prisons.

More specifically, a criminal record or a background check will provide the following information:

  • Date of birth
  • Photograph/mugshot
  • Fingerprints
  • Current and past addresses
  • Former arrest records
  • Current and past warrants
  • Sex offender status
  • The law enforcement agency that conducted the arrest, the police department, county sheriff, state police, etc.

Where can I find Michigan criminal records?

The Michigan State police maintain criminal records. They can be found by searching through the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) by names or fingerprints.

Other avenues can be used to retrieve Michigan criminal records, too.

They include the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), private companies, and the local police departments and courts.

Most criminal records can be requested online via mail or email. In addition to accessing criminal records online, Michigan law allows the general public to inspect and copy case records.

You can contact the sheriff’s office for local criminal history checks.

Michigan Inmate Records

All misdemeanor and felonies within all 83 Michigan counties are reported by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, or the courts.

The Michigan Department of Corrections maintains inmate records in the state.

What’s on a Michigan inmate record?

The information listed on an inmate record varies.

However, in Michigan, the records usually contain personal information and specific details about a person’s incarceration situation. Inmate information also includes records of their offenses, incarceration, and release dates.

These records are publicly available and accessible online, while others are restricted and released only to authorized parties.

Public access to inmate records can provide the following information when accessed:

  • Name and aliases
  • Date of Birth
  • Social security number
  • Height and weight
  • DOC ID
  • Booking photo
  • Assigned location
  • Sentence summary

Where can I find Michigan inmate records?

To access records, you can search for the inmate’s name and city through the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) by the Michigan Department of Corrections.

By law, the MDOC is required to keep inmate records on OTIS for up to three years after release.

Searches can be done on the OTIS database by offender name, MDOC number, sex, age, race, and status.

However, not all records are public. Some are only available to authorized parties.

Michigan Court Records

Court records can provide a wealth of information from court proceedings.

For those looking to access court records, there are resources listed below. It is important to remember that court records can be difficult to access since they are often held in different courts.

What’s on a Michigan court record?

In most cases, court records are quite large and come with many different documents. Most people find the following documents the most helpful:

  • Court minutes
  • Case files
  • Dockets
  • Orders of the court
  • Judgment documentation
  • Jury records and files
  • Witness documentation

Where can I find Michigan court records?

Fortunately, Michigan has an online database where the public can conduct a case search and see all its associated records.

The Michigan court records lookup allows you to search using a docket number and select whether the case was heard by the supreme court or a court of appeals.

You can also search by the party name or the attorney’s name.

If you need to access court cases held within district court or circuit court, you need to reach out to the county clerk and request the records.

It is important to note that not all cases are open and may not be available.

Michigan Vital Records

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services maintains the vital records office in the state.

Michigan vital records include:

  • Birth Certificates
  • Death Certificates
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Divorce Decrees

Public record requests for vital records will vary depending on the document you are requesting

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Vital Records Request
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909

Phone number: (517) 335-8666

What information do I need to request a Michigan birth certificate?

The Application for Certified Copy Michigan Birth Certificate will ask for specific information when ordering a birth record.

  • Full name on the birth record
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Place of birth

Where can I find a Michigan birth certificate?

You can order a Michigan birth certificate online by using VitalCheck.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a Michigan birth record by completing the Application for Certified Copy Michigan Birth Certificate and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified birth certificate in Michigan is $34. The state does offer expedited services for an additional $12.

What information do I need for a death certificate in Michigan?

The Application for a Certified Copy Michigan Death Record will ask for specific details when ordering a death record.

  • Full name on the death record
  • Date of birth
  • Date of death
  • Gender
  • Place of death
  • The full name of the parents of the deceased

Where can I find a Michigan death record?

You can order a Michigan death certificate online by using VitalCheck.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a Michigan death record by completing the Application for a Certified Copy Michigan Death Record and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified death certificate in Michigan is $34. The state does offer expedited services for an additional $12.

What information do I need to request a marriage certificate in Michigan?

The Application for a Certified Copy Michigan Marriage will ask for specific details.

  • Full name on the marriage record
  • Parents’ full name
  • Location of marriage
  • The location where the marriage occurred
  • Requester’s contact information

Where can I find an existing Michigan marriage record?

You can order a Michigan marriage record online by using VitalCheck.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a Michigan marriage certificate by completing the Application for a Certified Copy Michigan Marriage and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified marriage license in Michigan is $34. The state does offer expedited services for an additional $12.

What information do I need to request a divorce certificate in Michigan?

The Application for a Certified Copy Michigan Divorce Record form will ask you for specific details.

  • Full name of both spouses
  • County where the divorce was granted

Where can I find a Michigan divorce record?

You can order a Michigan divorce record online by using VitalCheck.

Or, you can request a certified copy of a Michigan divorce decree by completing the Application for a Certified Copy Michigan Divorce Record and submitting it by mail or in person.

The cost of a certified divorce decree in Michigan is $34. The state does offer expedited services for an additional $12.

Michigan Property Records

The Assessor’s Office maintains property records in Michigan.

The property records you can access include:

  • Liens
  • Land records
  • Titles
  • Property deeds
  • Mortgages
  • Property tax assessment records
  • Zoning information
  • Probate

What information do I need to request property records in Michigan?

Public property record requests are different depending on the information you are requesting.

You will need to contact your local Assessor’s Office for forms, fees, and office hours.

Where can I find a Michigan property record?

You will need to contact the Assessor’s Office to access a public property record in Michigan.

Example – City of Grand Rapids Assessor’s Office
City of Grand Rapids Assessor’s Office Property Lookup
300 Monroe Ave NW, 3rd Floor
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Phone number: 616-456-3081

FAQs

Can a request be submitted by non-residents of Michigan?

You can request records if you are a non-resident. Whether you live in Detroit or Denver, you can access public documents. Only a handful of states require requesters to live in the state to access public records.

Is there a records custodian in Michigan?

Michigan does not have a records custodian.

What exemptions exist for public records requests in Michigan?

Michigan Public Information law does have exemptions, including the governor’s office and records about individual legislature members.

How long does Michigan have to respond to a public records request?

There are no deadlines for how long a government agency has to respond. However, agencies are urged to respond as soon as possible.

Most agencies respond to a request within a week.

Is there an appeals process in place for public records requests in Michigan?

If you are denied access to public records, your only recourse is to fight it in court.

There is no administrative appeals process. In some states, if a request is denied, a requester can file a complaint with the attorney general, but that is not possible in Michigan.

What fees are associated with requesting public records in Michigan?

For requests made by the media or in the public’s interest, there are no fees charged. The public may be charged a small fee to copy records or case information.

Florida Public Records

The Freedom of Information Act, which passed back in the 60s, has made it easier for people to access documents, although it’s still a bit of a challenge.

Different departments keep records; some are online, some are still in hard copy, and some public officials aren’t quick to deliver public files.

As with other states, different public information is held by many various government agencies in Florida. Accessing public records in the form of Florida will depend on the kind of information you’re looking for.

Florida public records are maintained across several departments and they include:

What does the Florida public records law say?

The Florida Constitution contains open government laws, including the Public Records Law. This law states that any records made or received by any public agency in its official business are available for inspection unless specifically exempted by the Florida Legislature.

The law, called the Sunshine Law, can be found in Chapter 286 of the Florida statutes.

According to Florida law, this law includes access to formal written documents such as papers, maps, books, tapes, photographs, film, sound recordings, and records stored in computers.

How can a person access public records in Florida?

For public records access in Florida, a person must submit a public records request.

The request is sent via mail, email, mail, or phone to the Public Records Coordinator.

The public records request should include:

  • Your name
  • Contact information
  • The name of the document
  • Details about the document
  • A time frame that you’d like to receive the materials by
  • Document delivery method, email or mail

Florida criminal records

Florida criminal records provide a list of criminal activity for a specific person. The records contain any misdemeanor and felony offenses and include arrest data, indictment history, and conviction information.

What’s on a Florida criminal record?

A criminal record, or criminal history, provides a detailed report of a person’s interactions with law enforcement.

Arrest records typically feature details of the alleged crime as well as:

  • Aliases
  • Date of arrest
  • Arrest Records
  • Charges
  • Prosecution date
  • Guilty Pleas
  • Convictions
  • Felony or misdemeanor charge
  • Sex offender status

Where can I find Florida criminal records?

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains criminal records in the state.

You will visit the Florida Criminal History Record Check website.

The cost to access the criminal record check is $25 per search.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Attention
Criminal History Services
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302

Florida Inmate Records

Public inmate records provide some of the same information as a criminal record in addition to their incarceration details.

What’s on a Florida inmate record?

The information listed on an inmate record varies, but in Florida the records usually contain:

  • Personal information like a person’s name, birth date, and gender
  • A mug shot
  • Inmate location
  • Inmate registration number
  • Jail transfer information
  • Custody status

Where can I find Florida inmate records?

The Florida Department of Corrections maintains inmate records.

You will visit the Corrections Offender Network site to conduct your search.

Florida keeps all criminal justice records, including inmate records and arrest records. The state has put together a list of jails and gives you the ability to search inmate records, and in some counties, arrest records can be searched for and viewed.

Florida Department of Corrections
501 S Calhoun St
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Phone number: 850-488-5021

Florida Court Records

Florida court records give people a chance to review court files and proceedings. They’re created for criminal and civil trials in the local, county, state, and federal courts, and the Florida Supreme Court.

While court records are available to the public through the Sunshine Act, the documents can be sealed or expunged, which means you wouldn’t be able to access the record. Usually, this happens if the information puts someone at risk, like victims of a crime or juveniles.

These records aren’t all kept by one particular court or in one repository.

Instead, people can access documents by checking in with the court that handled the case.

What’s on a court record?

The information on a court record can vary, but in Florida, the most useful documents found inside a public court document include:

  • Court minutes
  • Case files
  • Dockets
  • Orders of the court
  • Judgment documentation
  • Jury records and files
  • Witness documentation

Where to find Florida court records

For people interested in inspecting court records in Florida, the state suggests visiting the courthouse where the case took place and requesting the documents in person from the clerk of court, county clerk, or the clerk’s office.

Some county records can be found online. In some cases, counties maintain an online records portal.

Miami-Dade County Comptroller, for example, has its own site with the ability to search government records using names and keywords. It’s a good idea to search for a similar site in the county you’re looking for.

Florida vital records

The Florida Department of Health maintains vital records statewide.

Florida vital records with public access include:

  • Birth Certificates
  • Death Certificates
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Divorce Decrees

Public vital records requests will vary depending on the document you are trying to access. You will require a valid ID or driver’s license to obtain certified copies.

Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Phone number: 850-245-4444

What information do I need to request a Florida birth certificate?

The Application for Florida Birth Certificate will ask you for specific information:

  • Child’s full name at the time of birth.
  • Child’s full name if it changed.
  • Date of birth.
  • Parent’s full name before marriage.

Where can I find a Florida birth certificate?

You can obtain a certified copy of a Florida Birth Certificate by completing the Application for Florida Birth Certificate and submitting it by mail or in person.

Or, you can request one online using VitalCheck.

The price for a copy of a birth certificate is $14.

DOH-Santa Rosa
Office of Vital Statistics
PO Box 929
Milton FL 32572-0929

You can visit your local health department to inquire about submitting a public records request.

What information do I need for a death certificate in Florida?

The Application for Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate requires specific information:

  • Full name of the deceased
  • Gender
  • Date of death
  • Date of birth
  • Social security number
  • Funeral home name

Where can I find a Florida death record?

You can obtain a certified copy of a death certificate by completing the Application for Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate and submitting it by mail or in person.

Or, you can request one online using VitalCheck.

You do have access to Florida state archives for genealogy searches.

The price for a copy of a death certificate is $14.

DOH-Santa Rosa
Office of Vital Statistics
PO Box 929
Milton FL 32572-0929

You can visit your local health department to inquire about submitting a public records request.

What information do I need to request a marriage certificate in Florida?

The Application for a Marriage Certificate will ask you for specific information:

  • The name and birth date of both spouses before marriage.
  • The date of the marriage.
  • Place of marriage.
  • County where the marriage certificate was issued.

Where can I find an existing Florida marriage record?

Marriage records in Florida are maintained by Circuit Court Clerks. However, you can submit a public records request to the Department of Health and Human Services.

You can access and order a marriage certificate online using VitalCheck or by completing the Application for a Marriage Certificate and submitting it in person or by mail.

The price for a certified copy of a marriage certificate is $5, and $4 for every additional copy.

What information do I need to request a divorce certificate in Florida?

The Application for the Florida Dissolution of Marriage Certificate will ask for specific information:

  • Name of both spouses on the divorce record.
  • The date of dissolution.
  • The county where granted.
  • The case number.

Where can I find a Florida divorce record?

Divorce records in Florida are maintained by Circuit Court Clerks.

You can also submit a public records request to the Department of Health and Human Services.

You can access and order a marriage certificate online using VitalCheck or by completing the Application for Florida Dissolution of Marriage Certificate and submitting it in person or by mail.

The price for a certified copy of a divorce decree is $5, and $4 for every additional certified copy.

Florida Property Records

In Florida, two offices maintain public property records.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection handles title and land records.

The Florida Department of Revenue maintains all other property records.

However, public records searches go through your county officials. You can find a complete list of local and county officials that handle public property records.

The information on a public property record will differ depending on what you’re specifically requesting access to:

  • Residential or commercial purpose
  • Liens
  • Titles
  • Property deeds
  • Mortgages
  • Property tax assessment records
  • Zoning information
  • Probate
  • Plats
  • UCC filings
  • And, all other real estate information.

What information do I need to request property records in Florida?

You will contact the local or county Property Appraiser that handles the official record you’re attempting to access.

Property Appraiser’s Offices have different processes and fees.

Example – Duval County
Duval County Property Appraiser

Mailing Address:
231 E Forsyth St #260
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone number: 904-255-5900

Where can I find a Florida property record?

You will need to contact the County Appraiser office where the property record is.

Every jurisdiction has different forms and fees.

Example – Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Property Search

South Dade Office
Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser
South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211 Street
Suite 207
Cutler Bay, FL 33189

Phone number: 305-232-3810

FAQs

Can a request be submitted by non-residents in Florida?

The Public Records laws state that you can access a public record regardless of if you live in the state of Florida. The eligibility to access public records extends to everyone in the United States.

Is there a records custodian in Florida?

In Florida, any person who has custody of a public record must share it.

The title, records custodian, isn’t used, but access should still be granted.

What exemptions exist for public records in Florida?

The Florida Constitution doesn’t list any exemptions and assumes that all records are public.

How long does Florida have to respond to a public records request?

Some states spell out a window of time that the state must respond to a request for information.

However, Florida is not one of those states.

The Florida State Constitution says all requests must be handled “promptly,” and every effort should be made to see if a record exists and if so, it should be delivered to the person requesting it promptly.

What kind of enforcement is in place for public records requests in Florida?

Florida doesn’t have much enforcement regarding appeals or denials for information.

If, for example, you’re denied access to public records, there is no appeal process. Several states spell out an appeal process, but Florida does not.

The state offers a mediation program through the Florida Attorney General’s Office to resolve potential disputes..

What fees are associated with requesting Florida public records?

In Florida, the cost to duplicate documents is $0.15 per one-sided page and $0.20 for double-sided pages, and $1 per certified copy.

Florida law also provides clearance for additional fees if a request comes in that ties up extensive resources.

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