​The General Assembly enacted the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) to guarantee the public’s right to information about government activities. This right lies at the heart of a democratic government. Sometimes a government entity may deny part or all of someone’s request or otherwise restrict information. That’s where the Public Access Ombudsman comes in.​​

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If an issue arises from a PIA request, the requester/applicant or records custodian/agency can request mediation assistance​ from the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman makes reasonable attempts through mediation to resolve PIA disputes between applicants and custodians.

Early resolution of disputes through the Ombudsman program saves time and resources and increases public knowledge and awareness of the PIA process. The Ombudsman’s mediation process is entirely voluntary, confidential, and, in many cases, doesn’t require an attorney.