ARCHIVIST OF THE HALL OF RECORDS 65

Fisher, Chief Medical Examiner, had informed you that he intended
to request legislation permitting his Department to destroy records
which had been microfilmed. Section 8 of Article 22 of the 1951
Code provides that:

"It shall be the duty of the Chief Medical Examiner,
and the Deputy Medical Examiners, to keep full and com-
plete records in their respective offices, properly indexed,
giving the name, if known, of every such person, the
place where the body was found, date and cause of death,
and all other available information relating thereto. The
original report of the Chief Medical Examiner, * * * and
the detailed findings of the autopsy, if any, shall be at-
tached to the record of each case. * * *"

See 38 Opinions of the Attorney General, 242.

It is the opinion of this office that all original records in the
office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and those in any other branch
of the State government required to maintain permanent records,
whether microfilm has been made or not, must be kept unless the
present law be amended by the Legislature, allowing the destruction
of the same.

SP:MH

Very truly yours,
Stedman Prescott, Jr.
Asst. Attorney General

July I, 1955.

DEPARTMENT OF PAROLE AND PROBATION,
State Office Building,
Annapolis, Maryland.

Attention: Mrs. Mary K. Rogers.
DEAR MRS. ROGERS:

You have inquired whether the Department of Parole and Pro-
bation is required to preserve its original records or whether it may,
with the consent and approval of the Hall of Records Commission,
provide for microfilming, and thereby clear the files of large quanti-
ties of material.

Under the provisions of Article 41, Section 91-K of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1954 Supplement), the Department of