Скачать или смотреть What OPRA Is and How Public Records Work in New Jersey (Jersey Signal - Ep 3)

What OPRA Is and How Public Records Are Supposed to Work in New Jersey
Host: Christopher Lotito

What rights do people actually have to see government records in New Jersey — and how is the process supposed to work?

In Episode 3 of the Jersey Signal Podcast, Christopher Lotito begins a short explainer series on public records and transparency in New Jersey by breaking down the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

This episode focuses on the basics: what OPRA is, who can use it, what qualifies as a government record, and how the law says agencies must respond when a request is submitted.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

What the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is and why it exists

Who is allowed to file an OPRA request (hint: anyone)

How New Jersey law defines a “government record”

What types of records are typically covered, including emails, texts, and digital files

How to properly submit an OPRA request

Agency response deadlines and the possible outcomes of a request

Why OPRA establishes a process — not a guarantee of access

While OPRA is meant to be the foundation of transparency in New Jersey government, this episode explains why the law often functions differently in practice — and why understanding the rules is critical before you ever file a request.

Future episodes will walk through the step-by-step process of submitting OPRA requests, responding to delays or denials, and understanding what options exist when agencies refuse to release records.

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