States within the union preserve records on documents, vehicular traffic infractions, marriage and divorce licenses, property and lien records, and much more, and thanks to the Oregon Public Records Law, these facts are available to the population. All relevant information about the many happenings of law enforcement, municipal courts, and local government are within these records, and generally are believed public unless officially redacted. Residents of Athena have the ability to better recognize their rights thanks to these laws, and the transparency offered by the release of these records helps to keep both criminals and regulators culpable with regard to their actions, subsequently leading to a more open and free society for everybody.