# Ind. Code § 5-14-3-1: Public policy; construction; burden of proof for nondisclosure

> Indiana · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-1

## Section

- **Citation:** Ind. Code § 5-14-3-1
- **Heading:** Public policy; construction; burden of proof for nondisclosure
- **Jurisdiction:** Indiana
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Indiana Code / Title 5 / Article 14 / Chapter 3 / Section 5-14-3-1

## Text

Sec. 1. A fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of representative government is that government is the servant of the people and not their master. Accordingly, it is the public policy of the state that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees. Providing persons with the information is an essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of public officials and employees, whose duty it is to provide the information. This chapter shall be liberally construed to implement this policy and place the burden of proof for the nondisclosure of a public record on the public agency that would deny access to the record and not on the person seeking to inspect and copy the record.

As added by P.L.19-1983, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.77-1995, SEC.1.

## Nearby sections

- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-1 Public policy; construction; burden of proof for nondisclosure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-1.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-2 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-2.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-2.1 "Public agency"; certain providers exempted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-2.1.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-2.2 Private university police department records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-2.2.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-3 Right to inspect and copy public agency records or recordings; electronic data storage; use of information for commercial purposes; contracts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-3.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-3.3 Public agency authority to establish electronic portal for public records requests; public agency authority to decline suspect public records requests](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-3.3.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-3.5 Enhanced access to public records; contract with third party](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-3.5.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-3.6 Public agencies; enhanced access to public records; office of technology](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-3.6.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4 Records and recordings exempted from disclosure; time limitations; destruction of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-4.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4.1 Repealed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-4.1.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4.3 Job title or job descriptions of law enforcement officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-4.3.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4.4 Investigatory records, records relating to criminal intelligence information, records relating to public safety; agency actions; court actions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-4.4.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4.5 Repealed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-4.5.md)
- [Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4.7 Negotiation records; final offers; certification of final offer disclosure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-4.7.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T5_A14_C3_S5-14-3-1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.