Citizens may access state records online

Access to public records from California state or local government is now available through an inexpensive Internet service.

Sacramentobased Californians Aware, a nonprofit open government advocacy group, is offering "SunScribe" at www.calaware.org. The service generates customized request letters developed by CalAware General Counsel and public legal specialist Terry Francke.

SunScribe offers three levels of service:

The basic level is a doityourself option that will generate a form letter for the user to submit. The service is free to CalAware members and $2.99 for others.

For those seeking anonymity, CalAware will contact the relevant agency on the user's behalf at the Gold service level, available to members at $19.99.

The full-service or Premium level includes further assistance and oversight by Francke, who will follow up with the agency with reconsideration letters if he feels that the request was improperly denied, plus an evaluation of the strength of the agency's position to help denied requesters decide their options. Premium level service is $74.99 for members.

SunScribe is the first public records request service of its kind in California, offering help that previously has been available through attorneys.

The service does not include legal representation or litigation, but attorneys who provide such service are listed in CalAware's lawyer directory.

SunScribe is provided by a grant from the law firm of Cooper, White & Cooper in San Francisco.

For more information, visit www.calaware.org.