Access To Public Records

The Office of the Governor has established the following procedures regarding inspection and copying of public records under R.I. General Laws § 38-2-1 et seq., commonly known as the Access to Public Records Act.

• A request can be made by telephone, letter, fax or email. You can also submit your request using the RIDOC Public Records Request Form found below.

• The Access to Public Records Act allows ten (10) business days within which to respond to a public records request. This time period can be extended to twenty (20) business days if the voluminous nature of the request, the number of requests for records pending, or the difficulty in searching for, and retrieving or copying the requested records is such that additional time is necessary.

• Any denial of the right to inspect or copy records, in whole or in part, will be made to you in writing, and will include the reason(s) for the denial and the procedures for appealing the denial.

• The cost per copied page is fifteen cents ($0.15). The hourly cost for a search and/or retrieval is fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour. There is no charge for the first hour of a search and/or retrieval.

• The text of the Access to Public Records Act is available online.

We strongly encourage you to review Chapter 38-2 entitled Access to Public Records in its entirety before submitting your request.

Completed RIDOC Public Records Request Forms may be emailed to doc.legal@doc.ri.gov.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Legal Counsel at:

40 Howard Ave

Cranston, RI 02920

Phone: (401) 462-2622

Fax: (401) 462-2583

Email: doc.legal@doc.ri.gov