South Carolina state laws dictate that records recording public decisions including court documents, police arrest records, marriage licenses, traffic transgressions and more are open and offered to the public, largely due to the South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act. This statute, itself in line with the Freedom of Information Act at the national level, provides Columbia people with specifics relating to cases of governmental involvement, such as the names and addresses of those involved, the activities leading up an incidence, effects and sentences handed down, and much more. Residents of Columbia are able to better recognize their rights thanks to these laws, and the transparency available from the release of these records helps to keep both criminals and legislators liable for their actions, consequently resulting in a more open and free society for all.