Final answer:
Sentences or records can be kept secret until an appropriate time through governmental procedures or recorded conversations, as exemplified in Congress's ability to keep votes secret and the impact of Nixon's tapes on political events. The prisoner's dilemma further illustrates the strategic importance of withheld information.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering how sentences or records are kept secret until an appropriate time, we can look at several historical and contemporary methods. In the context of governmental proceedings, for instance, Congress has the power to keep certain discussions and votes secret but must publish a journal of their proceedings; a recorded vote is required if one-fifth of the members demand it.
This ensures a level of transparency while allowing for confidentiality when necessary.
Discussing recorded conversations, such as those from the Nixon era (referenced as LibreTexts™), these were initially intended to be solely accessed by President Nixon for potential political leverage and for historical record keeping. However, they became public due to a series of political events and pressures, which eventually led to a major political scandal.
The model of the prisoner's dilemma in the case of two criminals being interrogated separately demonstrates a scenario where remaining silent could be beneficial if both parties trust each other to do so—underlining the importance of information or the lack thereof in decision-making.
In all these examples, the control, secrecy, and timing of information disclosure play critical roles in the outcomes of various situations.