When a record is being withheld in its entirety, custodians must reply to the OPRA request and explain the reason why the custodian cannot comply with the request. 47:1A-5g states that if a custodian is unable to comply with a request for access, the custodian shall "indicate the specific basis therefore" on the request form and promptly return it to the requester. The bottom line is that the requester has a right to know the reason for the redaction, and the custodian has the responsibility to provide a reasonable explanation. Sometimes it is clear from inspection (a entry called "Social Security Number" has a black out over where the number would appear). This principle also applies if pages of information are redacted. When redactions are made to a record, the custodian can use either the request form to explain why those elements of a record are redacted, or use a separate document, depending on the circumstances, but also referring to the OPRA exception being claimed. Techniques such as "hiding" text or changing its color so it is invisible should not be used as sophisticated users can detect the changes. If an electronic document is subject to redaction (i.e., word processing or Adobe Acrobat files) custodians should be sure to delete the material being redacted. The purpose is to provide formal communication to the requester making it clear that material was not provided. If full pages are to be redacted, the custodian should give the requester a visible indication that a particular page of that record is being redacted, such as a blank sheet bearing the word "Page redacted" or a written list of the specific page numbers being withheld. If "white-out" correction fluid is used to redact material, some visual symbol should be placed in the space formerly occupied by the redacted material to show the location of redacted material. The blacked out area shows where information was redacted, while the double copying ensures that the requester will not be able to "see-through" to the original, non-accessible text. Then provide a copy of the blacked-out record to the requester.Make a paper copy of the original record and manually "black out" the information on the copy with a dark colored marker. If a record contains material that must be redacted, such as a social security number or unlisted phone number, redaction may be accomplished by using a visually obvious method that shows the requester the specific location of any redacted material in the record.įor example, if redacting a social security number or similar type of small-scale redaction, custodian's should: Words, sentences, paragraphs, or whole pages may be subject to redaction. Redaction means editing a record to prevent public viewing of material that should not be disclosed. If the document is a scanned image, convert the image to searchable text using optical character recognition. They remind us that even objects, through their functional and symbolic meaning, change throughout time.Under OPRA, a government record that is otherwise publicly accessible may contain non-disclosable information that should be redacted. These objects, rendered with precise attention to detail, are queer looking: both recognizable and mysterious. A partially burned underexposed Polaroid harkens to an improperly erased memory the desire to capture a moment and to remember, and later the desire to forget. A plastic baggie stamped with a dripping “A” holds a lock of red hair, suspended by a silver pushpin. I recontextualized these fragments with other objects, imbuing them with new meaning. I gathered ephemera that had been cut or pulled from my body in the years prior to my self-actualization. Each object selected for its functional purpose, symbolic meaning, and personal significance. I began building a visual language through the collection of objects. I knew traditional self-portraiture would not sufficiently capturing this process of psychological fragmentation. This ongoing series is about slow, silent, stinging erasure.Īfter I came out as non-binary and trans, I recognized that as a child I had learned to disassociate from core aspects of my identity in order to evade transphobic criticism, harassment, and danger.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |