Criminal Justice
County Officials Could Be Jailed If Convicted of Sunshine Law Violation
Posted Oct 1, 2009 5:44 PM CST
By Martha Neil
In an unusually stringent approach to the enforcement of open government laws, the Oklahoma provides for criminal penalties for those who don't comply with statutory requirements that government decision-making be conducted in the sunshine.
Now eight officials including the Okmulgee County sheriff and city police chief are defendants in a misdemeanor case that charges them with violating the state Open Meeting Act by unauthorized voting in executive session, reports the Oklahoman.
If convicted, they could be sentenced to as much as one year in jail and a $500 fine.
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Comments
Salvatore Citino
Oct 2, 2009 6:07 AM CST
Florida’s Sunshine and Open Government Laws sound good for people’s rights to public records. Bur invoke this right to know if you dare! Talk about stonewalling and mean spirited public officials who hate to be accountable and regard those who ask as troublemakers. The only thing about Florida’s Open Goverment Laws is in name only. Public servants hate the Sunshine Laws and anyone
who applies for their Constitutional Rights!
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STEPHEN FULTZ
Oct 2, 2009 8:49 AM CST
This kind of activity makes me ashamed to be from Okmulgee. This arrogance is a failure of leadership and all involed should be removed.
shame, shame, shame.
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