Which statement best defines non-records?

Which statement best defines non-records?

• A. Non-records are generally copies or duplicates of official records.
• B. Non-records are original documents kept indefinitely.
• C. Non-records are confidential legal filings.
• D. Non-records are temporary emails.

Answer: (A)

Non-records are items that don’t have lasting value for official preservation; they’re typically copies or duplicates of official records rather than the original documents themselves. This distinction matters because records are the documents that must be retained under retention schedules, while non-records can be discarded after they’re no longer needed. The statement that non-records are generally copies or duplicates captures the common, practical definition used in records management for municipal courts. Original documents kept indefinitely are actual records with long-term retention needs, so they aren’t non-records. Confidential legal filings are also records that may require confidential handling and retention. Temporary emails can be non-records, but defining them narrowly doesn’t reflect the broader, standard idea that non-records are copies or duplicates of official records used for reference and disposal after use.

Non-records are items that don’t have lasting value for official preservation; they’re typically copies or duplicates of official records rather than the original documents themselves. This distinction matters because records are the documents that must be retained under retention schedules, while non-records can be discarded after they’re no longer needed. The statement that non-records are generally copies or duplicates captures the common, practical definition used in records management for municipal courts.

Original documents kept indefinitely are actual records with long-term retention needs, so they aren’t non-records. Confidential legal filings are also records that may require confidential handling and retention. Temporary emails can be non-records, but defining them narrowly doesn’t reflect the broader, standard idea that non-records are copies or duplicates of official records used for reference and disposal after use.