What are public records?

Public records encompass a wide array of documents, photographs, and materials that relate to the official business of government entities. These records are created or maintained by government agencies in the course of their duties and are made accessible to the public to promote transparency and accountability in government. Common examples of public records include court records, property records, vital records such as birth and death certificates, and various government reports.

The key characteristic of public records is their availability to the public, which helps ensure that citizens can monitor government activities and foster trust and transparency. This concept is vital for understanding the principles of governance and public administration, particularly in the context of law enforcement and corrections where access to such records can be crucial.

The other options do not accurately reflect the definition of public records. Only including documents with sensitive information excludes many important records from the public domain. Private correspondence between government employees generally does not qualify as public records as it is often considered confidential. Lastly, records maintained by private citizens are not categorized as public records since they do not pertain to government function or oversight.