The U.S. Census Bureau wants you to know that, if you are concerned about confidentiality, all responses to Census Bureau surveys and censuses are confidential and protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. Under this law, the Census Bureau is required to keep respondent information confidential. The Bureau will never share a respondent’s personal information with immigration enforcement agencies, like ICE; law enforcement agencies, like the FBI or police; or allow it to be used to determine their eligibility for government benefits. The results from any census or survey are reported in statistical format only.
Individual records from a decennial census are, by law (Title 44, U.S. Code), confidential for 72 years. In addition, under Title 13, U.S. Code, all Census Bureau employees swear a lifetime oath to protect respondent data. It is a felony for any Census Bureau employee to disclose any confidential census information during or after employment, and the penalty for wrongful disclosure is up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.
The 2020 Census will be conducted through July. To learn more, make plans to attend a free Lunchtime Lecture all about the Census at 11:30 a.m. March 3 at the Richardson Public Library.
Website: www.cor.net/census
