According to the Florida Statute Chapter 119, public records are anything that includes the transactions of government agencies with the public. These records can be made on anything such as papers, books, film, images, and documents and in other media format. Public records such as the Florida public records are accessible by the public and can be requested anytime. There are however some parts of the public records that will have to be exempted or redacted by the Custodian due to the sensitivity of the information. Confidential information is only released to the individuals who are included, have direct connection to the report, or are designated by the government to obtain the said records.
Anybody can access the records by making a request to Florida's "custodian of public records" either in writing or verbally. To make the request faster, one can opt for a verbal request by calling the Public Records division; however, a written request is favourable if the request is complex and details of the request are required. The Public Record Division is not compelled to answer the request within a timeframe. Nevertheless, the law states that the Office must respond within a reasonable time.
To request for a copy, the Law states a fee schedule that agencies must follow. It allows government agencies to charge $.15/one sided copy and $.20 for two-sided copies of the record. Certified copies cost about $1/record. The agencies must not charge above the cost of the materials and supplies used in duplicating the copies. There are however, some instances when the law allows the agencies to charge more than the amount mentioned above. One instance is when record/case(s) include court records, crash/homicide, county maps and aerial photographs. Another is when the case would require an extensive research of the records of the Office. Last is when the person requesting the information wants the record copies to be released in a media format such as a disk or tape and the agency maintains the same in the said medium/format.
In certain instances, the Custodian of Public Records would deny a request and would send the reason why the request was denied. In this instance, one can approach the Office of the General to request for a review of the denied request, file a complaint with the state attorney or file a Writ of Mandamus.
For those who are interested to access several government public records, the internet provides several options to make the searches easier. Some counties now make the records online and available to the public. Another is to check a third party site that offers public records free or for a small amount. Either way, checking online can help one to obtain the necessary information that they want as well as have them delivered at one's convenience.
Anybody can access the records by making a request to Florida's "custodian of public records" either in writing or verbally. To make the request faster, one can opt for a verbal request by calling the Public Records division; however, a written request is favourable if the request is complex and details of the request are required. The Public Record Division is not compelled to answer the request within a timeframe. Nevertheless, the law states that the Office must respond within a reasonable time.
To request for a copy, the Law states a fee schedule that agencies must follow. It allows government agencies to charge $.15/one sided copy and $.20 for two-sided copies of the record. Certified copies cost about $1/record. The agencies must not charge above the cost of the materials and supplies used in duplicating the copies. There are however, some instances when the law allows the agencies to charge more than the amount mentioned above. One instance is when record/case(s) include court records, crash/homicide, county maps and aerial photographs. Another is when the case would require an extensive research of the records of the Office. Last is when the person requesting the information wants the record copies to be released in a media format such as a disk or tape and the agency maintains the same in the said medium/format.
In certain instances, the Custodian of Public Records would deny a request and would send the reason why the request was denied. In this instance, one can approach the Office of the General to request for a review of the denied request, file a complaint with the state attorney or file a Writ of Mandamus.
For those who are interested to access several government public records, the internet provides several options to make the searches easier. Some counties now make the records online and available to the public. Another is to check a third party site that offers public records free or for a small amount. Either way, checking online can help one to obtain the necessary information that they want as well as have them delivered at one's convenience.
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