Public Records

Public Records Policy

It is the policy of the Vandalia Municipal Court that openness leads to a better informed citizenry, which leads to better government and better public policy. It is the policy of the Vandalia Municipal Court to strictly adhere to the state's Public Records Act. All exemptions to openness are to be construed in their narrowest sense and any denial of public records in response to a valid request must be accompanied by an explanation, including legal authority, as outlined in the Ohio Revised Code. If the request is in writing, the explanation must also be in writing.

Section 1 Public Records

This office, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, defines records as including the following:

Any document - paper, electronic (including, but not limited to, email),
Other formats - that is created or received by or comes under the jurisdiction of a public office that documents the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office.

All records of the Vandalia Municipal Court are public unless they are specifically exempt from disclosure under the Ohio Revised Code.

Section 1.1

It is the policy of the Vandalia Municipal Court that, as required by Ohio law, records will be organized and maintained so that they are readily available for inspection and copying (See Section 4 for the email record policy). Record retention schedules are to be updated regularly and posted prominently.

Section 2 Record Requests

Each request for public records should be evaluated for a response using the following guidelines

Section 2.1

Although no specific language is required to make a request, the requester must at least identify the records requested with sufficient clarity to allow the public office to identify, retrieve, and review the records. If it is not clear what records are being sought, the records custodian must contact the requester for clarification, and should assist the requestor in revisiting the request by informing the requestor of the manner in which the office keeps its records.

Section 2.2

The requester does not have to put a records request in writing and does not have to provide his or her identity or the intended use of the requested public record. It is this office's general policy that this information is not to be requested.

Section 2.3

Public records are to be available for inspection during regular business hours, with the exception of published holidays. Public records must be made available for inspection promptly. Copies of public records must be made available within a reasonable amount of time. "Prompt" and "reasonable" take into account the volume of records requested; the proximity of the location where the records are stored; and the necessity for any legal review of the records requested.

Section 2.4

Each request should be evaluated for an estimated length of time required to gather the records. Routine requests for records should be satisfied immediately if feasible to do so. If fewer than 20 pages of copies are requested or if the records are readily available in an electronic format that can be emailed or downloaded easily, these should be made as quickly as the equipment allows.

All requests for public records must be either satisfied (see Section 2.4) or be acknowledged in writing by the (public office) within three business days following the office's receipt of the request. If a request is deemed significantly beyond "routine," such as seeking a voluminous number of copies or requiring extensive research, the acknowledgment must include the following:

Section 2.4a - An estimated number of business days it will take to satisfy the request
Section 2.4b - An estimated cost if copies are requested
Section 2.4c - Any items within the request that may be exempt from disclosure

Section 2.5

Any denial of public records requested must include an explanation, including legal authority. If portions of a record are public and portions are exempt, the exempt portions are to be redacted and the rest released. If there are redactions, each redaction must be accompanied by a supporting explanation, including legal authority.

Section 3 Costs for Public Records

Those seeking public records will be charged only the actual cost of making copies.

Section 3.1

The charge for paper copies is 10 cents per page (normally waived if pages are minimal).

Section 3.2

The charge for downloaded computer files to a compact disc is $5 per disc.

Section 3.3

There is no charge for documents emailed.

Section 3.4

Requesters may ask that documents be mailed to them. They will be charged the actual cost of the postage and mailing supplies (normally waived if pages and costs are minimal).

Section 4 Email

Documents in electronic mail format are records as defined by the Ohio Revised Code when their content relates to the business of the office. Email is to be treated in the same fashion as records in other formats and should follow the same retention schedules.

Section 4.1

Emails related to court cases shall be copied and placed in the file.

Section 4.2

The records custodian is to treat the emails as records of the public office, filing them in the appropriate way, retaining them per established schedules and making them available for inspection and copying in accordance with the Public Records Act.

Section 5 Failure to Respond to a Public Record Request

The Vandalia Municipal Court recognizes the legal and non-legal consequences of failure to properly respond to a public records request. In addition to the distrust in government that failure to comply may cause, the Vandalia Municipal Court's failure to comply with a request may result in a court ordering the Vandalia Municipal Court to comply with the law and to pay the requester attorney's fees and damages.

Records Retention Schedule

Media types: paper, computer and microfilm
*Files (effective March 03, 2005):

OVI - 50 years
Domestic Violence - 50 years
Criminal (Misdemeanor 4 through Misdemeanor 1) - 50 years
Traffic (Misdemeanor 4 through Misdemeanor 1) - 25 years
Criminal and Traffic (Minor Misdemeanors) - 5 years
Civil - 2 yrs
* Entry and complaint only. Microfilmed when space is no longer available.

All other matters pursuant to Ohio Supreme Court Rule 26.

The Rules of Superintendence are available at:

http://supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/Superintendence.pdf