By Andria Simmons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Police and sheriff’s departments usually stand together on the same side of the law.
But the two groups are at odds over SB 411, a bill that would create a Sheriff’s Cooperative Authority in charge of setting up a computerized database of law enforcement records.
Anything from warrants and jail booking records to sheriff’s arrest reports would then be available to the public for a “reasonable fee.” Profits from fees would be used to operate the authority or to invest in training deputies. Backers of the bill have not yet determined how much money it might bring in or how much to charge for public access.
Terry Norris, executive director of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, said the authority would benefit the public by making sheriff’s records more accessible.
See original article here.