Public Records Inspection Request Download
POLICY NUMBER: 10 PAGES: 7 APPROVED BY: NWOJDT&RC District Board AUTHENTICATED BY: Superintendent of Detention
Policy
The Northwest Ohio Juvenile Detention, Training & Rehabilitation Center acknowledges that it maintains many records that are used in the administration and operation of the Detention Center. In accordance with state law and the Detention Center’s local Records Commission, the Detention Center has adopted Schedules of Records Retention and Disposition (RC-2) that identify these records. These schedules identify records that are stored on a fixed medium (paper, computer, film, etc.) that are created, received, or sent under the jurisdiction of the Detention Center and document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the Detention Center. (R.C. 149.011(G); R.C. 149.43(A)(1)). The records maintained by the Detention Center and the ability to access them are a means to provide trust between the public and the Detention Center.
Procedures
A. Each office, department or function that maintains records has a designated employee who serves as the custodian of all records maintained by the office, department or function. 1. Each record custodian has a copy of the Detention Center’s public records policy. (R.C. 149.43(E)(2)).
B. The Detention Center’s public record policy, as well as, the Detention Center’s Schedules of Records Retention and Disposition (RC-2) are located at every location in which the public may access the Detention Center’s records.
C. The Detention Center’s public records policy is located in the Detention Center’s policies and procedures manual.
D. The Detention Center displays a poster which generally describes the Detention Center’s public records policy at every location in which the public may access the Detention Center’s records.
Fees
A. The Detention Center, in accordance with Section 149.43 of the Revised Code, has established the following fees for providing copies or reproductions of public records maintained by the Detention Center:
1. For photocopies of either letter or legal size documents, the fees shall be $0.05 per photocopy calculated from the first photocopy. Advance payment is required before any copies are prepared. Two sided photocopies shall be charged at a rate of $0.10 per sheet.
2. For video tapes, cassette tapes or for any other type of media, the fee shall be the replacement cost or the reproduction (copying) cost. Reproduction costs may only be charged if a commercial or professional service is contracted to provide the copy.
3. Established costs \ fees under this policy shall be clearly posted and visible to the public at all locations authorized to provide copies of public records.
Availability for Inspection
A. All public records maintained by the Detention Center shall be promptly prepared and made available for inspection to any person during regular business hours as well as a copy of the Detention Center current records retention schedule(s), if applicable. (R.C. 149.43(B)(1)). (Promptness is to be determined by the facts and circumstances of each public records request). Regular business hours for the Detention Center are Monday through Friday (except holidays), from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
B. For the purpose of enhancing the ability of the Detention Center to identify, provide for prompt inspection, as well as, provide copies of the requested items in a reasonable period of time, the Detention Center shall provide to the requester a Public Records Inspection Request, NWOJDC Form 13 for the requester to complete.
1. Prompt inspection and copies of records within a reasonable amount of time contemplates the opportunity for legal review.
2. Although the Detention Center may ask the requestor to make the request in writing, for the requestor’s identity, and may inquire about the intended use of the information requested, the requester shall be advised that:
a. The requests are not mandatory; and b. The requestor’s refusal to complete Form 13 does not impair the requestor’s right to inspect and/or receive copies of the public record. (R.C. 149.43(B)(5)).
3. Any person, including corporations, individuals, and even governmental agencies, may request public records, and will be allowed prompt inspection of public records and copies within a reasonable amount of time upon request.
a. In the event a request is made to inspect and/or obtain a copy of a record maintained by the Detention Center whose release may be prohibited or exempted by either state or federal law, the request shall be forwarded to legal counsel for the Detention Center for research and/or review. The person submitting the request shall be advised that their request is being reviewed by legal counsel to ensure that protected and/or exempted information is not improperly released by the Detention Center.
1. Records, whose release is prohibited or exempted by either state or federal law, or not considered public records as defined by R.C. 149.43(A)(1), shall NOT be subject to public inspection.
Public Records Requests
A. Mailed Requests for Public Records:
1. Upon receiving a written request for copies of a public record made in accordance with section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code via the United States Postal Service, the Detention Center shall promptly respond to the request.
2. An authorized employee of the Detention Center shall, by any means practical, contact the requestor and advise them that advance payment is required prior to providing copies of public records, and in addition, the fee shall also include the cost of postage and the envelope. (R.C. 149.43(B)(7)).
3. When practical, the Detention Center may forward copied records by any other means reasonably acceptable to the requestor.
a. If a person requests a copy of a public record, the Detention Center shall permit the requestor to choose to have the public record duplicated on paper or upon the same medium upon which the Detention Center maintains the public record or upon any other medium on which the record can reasonably be duplicated as an integral part of the normal operations of the Detention Center, or the responsible Detention Center employee for the public record. (R.C. 149.43(B)(6)(7)).
b. Persons seeking copies of public records are not permitted to make their own copies of the requested records by any means. (R.C. 149.43(B)(6)).
4. In accordance with section 149.43(B)(7) of the Ohio Revised Code, the Detention Center limits the number of requested public records, to be transmitted through the U. S. Mail, to a maximum of ten records per month, unless the requestor certifies that the records or information in them will not be used for commercial purposes.
a. “Commercial purposes” shall be narrowly construed and does not include reporting or gathering news, reporting or gathering information to assist citizen oversight or understanding of the operation or activities of government, or nonprofit educational research.
5. Authorized Detention Center employees shall comply with the following procedures upon receiving a valid public record request through the United States Postal System: a. Detention Center employees shall promptly process requests.
b. Requestors shall be charged the postage fees and the cost of the envelope required to properly send the requested records through the mail.
B. Written or verbal requests for copies made by the public records requester or their designee shall be processed in the same manner as mailed requests.