Bill would let police keep more information secret

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House is considering two bills that could change the way South Carolina citizens get information from police and their local and state governments.

Freedom of Information Act experts like one bill, which could reduce administrative and copying costs for records. But media lawyer Jay Bender fears the other bill could allow law enforcement too much latitude to decide what information gets released to the public and what doesn’t.

Bender says police agencies across the state are already illegally restricting information by refusing to release police reports or urging officers to put fewer details on their reports.

Supporters of the bill say the goal of the proposal is to protect crime witnesses and victims.