Public Records Request

ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT

R.I. GENERAL LAWS SECTION 38-2-1 ET SEQ.

The Woonsocket Police Department is committed to providing the public with access to public records while protecting from disclosure of information about individuals maintained that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.  R.I. Gen. Laws Section 38-2-1.  The Woonsocket Police Department provides numerous public documents to the public, media, and attorneys every day in the ordinary course of business.  However, for any person who does not desire to make an oral request, wishes to make a formal request or request or the request needs clarification, please complete the written form.

Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Section 38-2-3(c.), the Woonsocket Police Department has established the following procedure regarding access to public records:

Please inform the clerk at the front desk that you wish to make a request for public records.  Our B.C.I. or Records Department is responsible for Public Records for the Woonsocket Police Department.  The hours for the B.C.I. Department are 8 am to 4 pm days and 4 pm to 12 midnight Monday through Friday.

The officer/clerk will provide you with a form to complete, which lets this Department know the precise public documents you seek and assists us in processing your request in an expeditious manner.

If the public records are readily available, we will be more than happy to provide them.  However, there are times/circumstances when the records will not be available at the time that you make the request.  If the records are not readily available, they can be mailed to either you or they can be picked up on a designated date.  The Access to Public Records Act grants a public body ten (10) business days to respond to your request (R.I. Gen. Laws Section 38-2-7 (a)).  The Act further provides that “for good cause, this limit may be extended for a period not to exceed thirty (30) business days.”  We thank you in advance for your understanding if it is necessary to request this extension.  Improper release of certain information could compromise the civil rights or personal safety of your fellow citizens, and we must review documents to prevent such harm.

Costs:  The Access to Public Records Act gives you the opportunity to view and/or copy public records.  The cost per copied page of written public documents will be $ .15 per page for documents capable of being copied on common business or legal-size paper.  You may elect to obtain public records in all media in which we are capable of providing them.  The Act permits a reasonable charge for the search and retrieval of documents.  The hourly costs for a search and retrieval shall not exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour, with no charge for the first hour.  We would be more than happy to provide you with an estimate.  Upon a request, we will provide a detailed itemization of the costs charges for search and retrieval.