Public Records - Law
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The City of Cincinnati's Law Department document outlines the Ohio Public Records Act, which grants citizens the right to request access to public records to enable government oversight in a functioning democracy. The City commits to adopting a public records policy, organizing records for public access, and maintaining a retention schedule. Requests should be submitted through GovQA, the City's centralized public records management system, with responses provided promptly within a reasonable timeframe determined by individual circumstances, with copying costs charged at actual rates and certain exemptions allowed for legal review.
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Law Department Public Records Public Records Public Records In Ohio The Ohio Public Records Act is based on the idea that a working democracy can only be accomplished if citizens are able to oversee their government's operations. Therefore, the law allows anyone to request access to public records. Under the Ohio Public Records Act, a public record is any item kept by a public office that: is stored on a fixed medium; is created, received, or sent under the jurisdiction of a public office; and documents the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office. The City of Cincinnati is committed to upholding both the letter and spirit of the Ohio Public Records Act. Therefore, the City will take the following actions: Adopt and post a public records policy. Organize and maintain its records in a way that allows access and inspection by the public. Maintain a copy of its records retention schedule at a location easily accessible to the public. How Do You Request Access To Public Records? It is recommended that you submit your request through GovQA, the City’s public records management system. This system allows departments to intake, track, coordinate, redact, and release public records requests through a single platform. The centralized platform allows for greater ease of communication and sharing of records between departments. You must identify the records sought in a manner that allows the City to determine what is being requested. If your request is too broad, or the records are not kept in the manner they are requested, you may be asked to narrow the scope of your request. What Can You Expect In Response To A Public Records Request? As required by the Ohio Public Records Act, the City will: Provide prompt inspection of public records. Provide copies of records within a reasonable time. There is no set time limit for responding to a request. Instead, the appropriate time frame is determined based on the circumstances in each individual case, allowing time for legal review, if necessary. Charge for copies at a rate that does not exceed its actual copy costs. Mail records if requested (the office may charge the actual costs for postage and mailing supplies). Certain records are exempted from the definition of a public record. The City will provide an explanation of any information redacted or withheld under the Public Records Act. Police Records & Reports Please visit the Police Records & Reports page to find out what records and reports are available, and their associated fees. LAW DEPARTMENT MENU About The Law Department Ethics & Good Government Cincinnati Elections Commission Office of Administrative Hearings Parking Violations Bureau Quality of Life Collections City Mediation Program Victim Advocates Public Records Records Retention Schedules Meeting Notices Contact Us CONTACT US GovQA Records Request System
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This webpage describes Hamilton County, Ohio's public records request process for departments under the Board of County Commissioners. It explains that Hamilton County complies with the Ohio Public Records Act and adopted Personnel Policy Manual Section 2.13 on September 27, 2007, establishing procedures for handling public records requests and retention. The page directs citizens to contact the Human Resources Department and provides links to request records from the Board of County Commissioners or other county elected offices that maintain separate records systems.
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