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Bright Ideas: The Baltimore Sun

Published: April 09, 2008
Last Updated: April 09, 2008

Analyzing more than 6,000 records obtained using the Maryland Public Information Act, The Baltimore Sun discovered that some $1.8 million from the Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, established to assist crime victims, has been paid to "drug dealers, violent offenders and other criminals since 2003." A Sun reporter matched the list of 2,743 successful fund grantees (out of a total 6,502 applicants) against a list of defendants in Baltimore Circuit Court, finding 217 people convicted of crimes (147 of whom were felons) prior to their compensation from the fund, the paper explained.

Ironically, although the Sun's investigation led to calls for reform from the General Assembly, the fund's leadership has asked the legislature to exempt future requests from disclosure under the state information act.

The Sun also published an overview of public opinion on government secrecy, based on the Scripps Howard News Service-Ohio University survey for Sunshine Week, and an editorial calling for more open government in Maryland.

Download PDFs of the criminals' compensation investigation; the overview of public opinion on government secrecy; and the editorial. See also The Sun's Web site for more.