INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
By law, under the Inspection of Public Records Act, every person has the right to inspect public records of the Eighth District Attorney’s Office. Compliance with requests to inspect public records is an integral part of the routine duties of the officers and employees of the Eighth District Attorney’s Office.
Procedures for Requesting Inspection
Requests to inspect public records should be submitted to the records custodian, located below.
A person desiring to inspect public records may submit a request to the records custodian orally or in writing. However, the procedures and penalties prescribed by the Act apply only to written requests. A written request must contain the name, address, and telephone number of the person making the request. Written requests may be submitted in person or sent via US mail, email, or facsimile. The request must describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable the records custodian to identify and locate the requested records.
The records custodian must permit inspection immediately or as soon as practicable, but no later than 15 calendar days after the records custodian receives the inspection request. Suppose the inspection is not permitted within three business days. In that case, the person making the request will receive a written response explaining when the records will be available for inspection or when the public body will respond. If any of the records sought are not available for public inspection, the person making the request is entitled to a written response from the records custodian explaining the reasons inspection has been denied. The written denial shall be delivered or mailed within 15 calendar days after the records custodian receives the request for inspection.
Procedures for Requesting Copies and Fees
If a person requesting inspection would like a copy of a public record, a reasonable fee may be charged. The fee for printed documents 8.5 inches by 11 inches or smaller is 75 cents per page. The fee for larger documents is $1 per page. The fee for a CD or DVD is $10 per disc. There is no fee for electronically disseminated documents. The records custodian may request that applicable fees for copying public records be paid in advance, before the copies are made. A receipt indicating that the fees have been paid will be provided upon request to the person requesting the copies.