how to request records from attorney general office wa

by Yvonne Connelly Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 4 min read

The Office of the Attorney General will continue to accept public records requests by way of the following methods to submit a request: By email to [email protected] (preferred method) By letter to Public Records Unit, PO Box 40100, Olympia, WA 98504-0100 or

The Attorney General's Office would like to assist you in understanding Washington law governing access to public records, and obtaining those records.
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A request for public records can be initiated:

In person;
By mail, email, or fax; or.
Over the telephone.

Full Answer

How do I request public records in Washington State?

The Office of the Attorney General will continue to accept public records requests by way of the following methods to submit a request: By email to [email protected] (preferred method) By letter to Public Records Unit, PO Box 40100, Olympia, WA 98504-0100 or By fax to (360) 586-2741. Thank you. Stay safe and be well.

When to request an attorney general review of a public record?

Feb 16, 2018 · The Attorney General’s Office now offers local governments assistance through its Local Government Public Records Consultation Program. The …

How do I request a copy of an attorney general’s opinion?

Oct 31, 2016 · 2.1 Exemptions Permit Withholding or Redaction of Records. Records must be produced upon request unless a law “exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records.”. RCW 42.56.070 (1). These laws are called “exemptions.”. The PRA and other statutes provide hundreds of very specific exemptions.

How do I get public records from the Department of Corrections?

Attorney General Review. Per RCW 42.56.530, whenever a state agency concludes that a public record is exempt from disclosure and denies a person opportunity to inspect or copy a public record for that reason, the person may request the attorney general to review the matter. The attorney general shall provide the person with his or her written ...

Does Washington state have public records?

Washington residents have the right to search for, obtain, and examine public records per the Washington Public Records Act. This law states that government records and information are presumed public. The Washington State Records website's mission is aid Washington state citizens in the obtaining of that information.

How do I contact the Washington State Attorney General?

Call 1-800-551-4636 (in Washington only) or 1-206-464-6684.

How do I file public records in Washington state?

How do I request a copy of a public document? Please email your request to [email protected]. Include your name, phone number, email address, and a description of the records you are requesting. The request must be for a specific identifiable record or series of records.

Are 911 calls public record in Washington?

They are generally public. State law says 911 call recordings and transcripts cannot be released unless the agency or a court determines that the public interest in disclosure out weights the interest in nondisclosure.Jul 18, 2012

Who is Washington's Attorney General?

Bob Ferguson (Democratic Party)

Washington / Attorney general

Robert Watson Ferguson is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 18th attorney general of Washington. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020. Prior to serving as Attorney General, Ferguson was a member of the King County Council.

Wikipedia

How much does an assistant attorney general make in Washington state?

The typical Attorney General of Washington State Assistant Attorney General salary is $98,111 per year. Assistant Attorney General salaries at Attorney General of Washington State can range from $69,396 - $136,335 per year.

What is a PRA request?

Public records maintained by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) are available for inspection by members of the public pursuant to the Public Records Act (PRA) which is contained in the California Government Code beginning at section 6250.

How do i find divorce records in Washington state?

In order for a member of the public to access a divorce record that is held in the state of Washington:

Determine if the divorce was finalized before or after 1968.
If it is before, these records can be found in the Superior Court Clerk's Office of the county where the divorce took place.

More items...

Are death records public in Washington state?

Most Washington death records are open to members of the public. However, some death records include a confidential section. The information in this section is usually unavailable unless the record is obtained with a court order authorizing the disclosure of this information.

Does 911 operators keep records of calls?

Law Enforcement Agencies Keep Records

In California, 911 calls are deemed a matter of public record, and the CPRA makes these records available to the public.Oct 19, 2019

How long does 911 keep recorded calls?

This depends on the agency. Some only keep 30 days back and some keep a year back. A record of the calls for service is kept longer than a recording of the actual call. There may still be a record that a call was made, but not a recording...Aug 3, 2010

Are 911 calls public record in Colorado?

False. Every state has different open records laws, but generally speaking 9-1-1 calls are recorded, are considered public record, and can be requested by the media or members of the public.

Does RCW 42.56.050 create privacy?

RCW 42.56.050 expressly states that it does not, by itself, “create any right of privacy beyond those rights that are specified in this chapter as express exemptions from the public's right to inspect, examine, or copy public records.”.

What is RCW 42.56.230?

Student, Institutional Residents, and Public Assistance Records: RCW 42.56.230 (1) This exemption covers “personal information” held by agencies in files kept for public assistance or public health clients, students, and residents of public institutions.

What is personal information?

"Personal information" is information that is "peculiar or proper to private concerns." Lindeman v. Kelso School Dist. No. 458 (2007). Although the PRA is intended to enable citizens to retain sovereignty over government and to demand full access to information relating to our government's activities, the PRA was “not intended to make it easier for the public to obtain personal information about individuals who have become subject to government action due to personal factors.... Such personal information generally has no bearing on how our government operates.” Lindeman; DeLong v. Parmelee (2010) . “Personal information” has a different meaning than “privacy.” Lindeman. Some exemptions list what is “personal information” and some exemptions also include invasion of “privacy” as a required element. The discussion of “invasion of privacy” is in Chapter 2.1B.

Is business license information confidential?

Licensing information created or obtained by the Department of Revenue in the business licensing process is confidential, privileged and exempt under RCW 19.02.115 (2) . As with tax information addressed in Chapter 2.2B4, the information is not subject to redaction and is withheld in its entirety. Exceptions apply to allow production of records to the licensee and authorized representative, provide statistical information, and sharing with other agencies and law enforcement. Information is made public on the Department of Revenue website and otherwise, identifying information not associated with protected information consisting of the name of licensee, entity type, trade name, business and mailing address, unified business identifier and list of license held with dates of opening, issuance and expiration dates.

Does the PRA have a privacy exemption?

The PRA does not have a stand-alone “privacy” exemption. The PRA has a description of when privacy is invaded, described at RCW 42.56.050, but that statute is not an exemption. RCW 42.56.050 expressly states that it does not, by itself, “create any right of privacy beyond those rights that are specified in this chapter as express exemptions from the public's right to inspect, examine, or copy public records.” RCW 42.56.050 also explains that, when an exemption within the PRA protects “privacy,” it allows withholding only if disclosure: (1) would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, and (2) is not of legitimate concern to the public. This two-part test requires proof of both elements . King County v. Sheehan (2002).

Is the Department of Corrections processing public records requests?

, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is only processing public records requests via email and through the online electronic request portal. Per the Governor’s direction, the DOC will not be processing any requests submitted via U.S. mail through January 19, 2021.

Do you need a public record to be incarcerated?

General questions do not require a public record request. Additionally, the Department of Corrections (DOC) can provide some information about incarcerated and formally incarcerated person (s) without a public records request. You may contact DOC Headquarters for this information, or with general questions.

What is the purpose of the Public Records Act?

The purpose of the act is to allow people to be informed about governmental decisions and therefore help keep government accountable ( WAC 44-14-01003 ). The act declares that it must be "liberally construed" to promote the public policy of open government ...

What is the RCW 42.56.530?

Per RCW 42.56.530 , whenever a state agency concludes that a public record is exempt from disclosure and denies a person opportunity to inspect or copy a public record for that reason, the person may request the attorney general to review the matter.

When will the DOC stop accepting requests?

Per the Governor’s direction, the DOC will not be processing any requests submitted via U.S. mail through January 19, 2021. In addition, the department will cease in-person inspection of public records and will not accept in-person submission of requests at DOC facilities and offices. At this time, the Governor’s directive lasts through January ...

What is the phone number for the Washington State Attorney General?

If you need to receive the information in this brochure in an alternate format, please call (206) 464-6684. The hearing impaired may call 1-800-833-6388 statewide. Published by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

What is the job of the Attorney General of Washington?

The Attorney General is the constitutional legal adviser to state officers. The specific duties of the office include: Representing the State of Washington in the courts in all cases in which the state is interested. Defending the state and its agencies and employees when acting in their official capacities.

Is the Washington Attorney General's opinion binding?

Issuing Attorney General Opinions is just one of the duties of the Washington Attorney General, as the constitutional legal adviser to state officers. Formal opinions issued by the Office ...

Who reviews the Washington State formal opinion?

Each formal opinion is carefully drafted by the assigned attorney, reviewed by the Opinions Editor, at least one other Assistant Attorney General and, finally, the Attorney General. During the process, the opinion may be revised several times. Notice of pending formal opinion requests is published in the Washington State Register.

Can an attorney general's opinion be cited?

An informal opinion should be cited as a letter of the attorney who signed the opinion, with a notation of the date and the addressee.

What is the most appropriate use of an attorney general opinion?

The most appropriate use for an Attorney General Opinion is to clarify the interpretation of statutes whose meaning is in dispute or doubt, or which appear to be inconsistent with other state laws. Questions concerning the validity of existing or proposed regulations (WACs) are also appropriate.