Thanks to the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, information such as court papers, police arrest records, marriage certifications, and more are all accessible for the public to locate, investigate, and gather, and Montanans are not any exception with thanks to the Montana Open Meetings Law. This statute, itself in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act at the country wide level, gives Laurel residents with information relating to instances of governmental intervention, such as the addresses and names of those involved, the events leading up an occurrence, outcomes and sentences handed down, and more. Inhabitants of Laurel have the ability to better recognize their rights due to these laws, and the transparency offered by the release of these records keeps both criminals and authorities liable with regard to their actions, consequently resulting in a more open and free society for all.