SWOP in the PRESS

SWOP Press Releases, Statements and Events

Tim Barnett speaks out on sex worker rights

Revisioning Prostitution Policy conference


3rd Annual Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

Third International Day - Letter from Robyn Few

Berkeley proclaims International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

SF Mayor and Supervisors proclaim International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

Shame on Oakland

Quotes from discussion on December 17

First Annual Transgender Holiday Dinner

Announcement of Third Annual Day to End Violence Against Sex Workerks


SWOP-initiated measure to decriminalize sex work in Berkeley

Libertarians endorse Measure Q

Green Party endorses Measure Q

City Council candidate endorses Measure Q

Other endorsements

Letter from John Burton

Meaure Q qualifies for the ballot

Letter to Berkeley Councilwoman Maudelle Shirek

Press conference on Holy Hill pictures

Press conference about decriminalization

On Cover of SFBG

Proposed initiative

Commentary: Decriminalization Ends Trafficking

SWOP files measure to decriminalize prostitution


2nd Annual Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

Annie Sprinkle Offers Ways to Participate in Day to End Violence

Poster for 2nd Annual Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

2nd Annual Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers


Green River Memorial

Green River Victims

Events for Dec 17, 2003

Angel's Press Release


Other events

Las Vegas or Busts party

Robyn Few appears on Penn and Teller

Robyn Few speaks at NE School of Law

Robyn Few speaks at Georgetown

Financial Seminar

Hooker's Ball

An Evening with Tim Barnett

Sex Workers Art Show

Declaration of Human Rights for Sex Workers

SWOP Presents at Toledo Conference

HoDown

Justice Now Hosts Conversation with Robyn Few

Boobies Against Ashcroft

Self Defense Workshop

Topless protester

SWOP appointed to commission for women

Know Your Rights Flyer (Outside)

Know Your Rights Flyer (Inside)

Tags:
Is state covering up murder of prostitutes?



 http://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/opinion/120708editorial.html

Is the state covering up murder?

By The Baltimore Examiner Newspaper
- 12/7/08

Why would the Maryland medical examiner refuse to release essential public information on hundreds of “undetermined” deaths?
State law offers no exemption. The attorney general’s latest manual on our Public Information Act says these public records are open. Police have no objection. Families of the deceased want details out in the open.

In fact, the attorney general specifically states legal exemption for private, personal medical records “does not protect from disclosure autopsy reports of a medical examiner,” and that even in criminal cases, “A custodian of investigatory records must nonetheless disclose them to any person, unless the custodian determines that disclosure would be ‘contrary to the public interest’ or unless other law would prevent disclosure.”

State Medical Examiner Dr. David Fowler cannot or will not cite any “public interest” served by secrecy. He cannot or will not cite any statute or court ruling to justify withholding this public information.

Spokeswoman Cindy Feldstein replied by e-mail to Reporter Stephen Janis only that “Location of incident is not public.”

Wrong. For one thing, all government information is public. The only question is whether it is open or falls within precisely limited exceptions allowing secrecy.

When in doubt about a government record, the attorney general makes it clear: “[The] general right of access to records is limited by numerous exceptions. ... Given the PIA’s policy in favor of public access, and the requirement that the PIA ‘be construed in favor of permitting inspection of a record,’ these exceptions should be construed narrowly.”

That means when in doubt, let it out.

So, what is Fowler hiding? For whom and why? This government secrecy makes no sense.
Here’s the story. In September, Janis filed an MPIA request for full names, ages, dates of death and locations of body for all women ruled “undetermined” in the past 10 years in Baltimore City.

The medical examiner’s office provided only last names, and estimated dates and causes of death.

Fowler won’t release the number of “undetermined” deaths since 2005, when there were 814 statewide. In 2004 Baltimore City had 341 of Maryland’s 807. That same year, Washington, D.C., had only 76.

Undetermined deaths add nothing to the city’s murder rate. Police do not have to investigate them.

In Baltimore three years ago, a community activist accused the city of covering up a serial strangler of prostitutes. Official response was vehement denial. Yet in 10 years, police solved only seven murders of 26 women with histories of prostitutioni.

What we don’t know is how many of the “undetermined” deaths may have been murders. Families of some victims are convinced they were.

Letting the public know their full names and where they died would be one small step toward either putting rumors to rest or killers behind bars.

Killing streets
Click on the headlines below for more from The Baltimore Examiner's coverage of attacks against sex workers on the city's streets.

Who is killing the prostitutes?

Prostitute tells harrowing tale of assault

Dixon says city working hard to crack unsolved slayings

Love of heroin greater than fear of danger for Baltimore sex worker

Three minutes with Sidney Ford on protecting prostitutes

'He thought I was dead' – Baltimore woman identifies man charged with attacks on prostitutes

Addiction, crime plague area where sesker's body was found

Baltimore police chief: Two of five stranglings probably aren't related to others

Allegations of serial predator shock Baltimore neighborhood

Deaths on Baltimore City streets rattle local sex workers

Suspected predator may face more charges

Records: 5th Baltimore City strangling victim a prostitute

Three more slayings of hookers remain unsolved from 2003, records show

Special squad to investigate Baltimore stranglings

Four prostitutes strangled since April

Attorney: Police knew 'serial rapist' on the loose since '05


Submitted by Frank Keegan on Mon, 12/08/2008 - 07:13.