A public record is a wide variety of documents and other materials (including print, photographic, and electronic formats) that were created or obtained by a city agency and are, at the time the request is filed, in the department's possession and control. The Public Records Act excludes certain categories of records from disclosure, including materials related to internal agency rules, proprietary business information, inter- and intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges, and personal privacy. Other exclusions apply for Police Department Records.

Any person, business, organization, etc. may submit a request for records.

The Office of the City Clerk prefers requests be submitted through the City's public records request portal (NextRequest). A hard copy of the Request for Public Records form may be obtained by contacting the Office of the City Clerk. If you need assistance in making a focused and effective request that reasonably describes an identifiable record, please let us know and we will be happy to assist you. For further information, call (916) 617-4500 or email clerk@n-73.net.

To request Police records, please visit: http://ak9nhw.n-73.net/government/departments/police/documentation-request

The law requires law enforcement agencies to provide information the public has the right to know and at the same time, to withhold information if the release would jeopardize an individual's right to privacy. All agency records not exempted by statutory of case law are available. Certain records or portions of records are subject to privacy laws and/or other exemptions and are rarely ever available for viewing. Common public records requests are for:

• Arrest logs
• Calls for service logs
• Daily activity logs
• Statistics
• 9-1-1 and telephone recordings
• Crime reports
• Accident reports
• Registrant files (Megan's Law)
• Traffic Citations
• Local summary criminal history information for an individual
• Warrant information
• Juvenile Records

It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to allow the public access to certain information obtained during the normal course of daily business. Law Enforcement personnel must be aware of and apply the legal exemptions to the release of some information to protect individual privacy, safety and reputation.

Government Code section 7920 specifies exemptions in order to balance the individual's right to privacy with the public's need for information. Items that will most likely be redacted from West Sacramento Police Department public records are:

• Identifying juvenile information
• Identifying victim information associated with crimes to Penal Code Sections 261,264,264.1,273a,273d,286,288 or 289
• Identifying confidential informant information
• Criminal offender record information
• Information that may endanger the safety of a witness or the other person
• Information that may jeopardize an investigation, related investigation or law enforcement proceeding
• Any portion of the report that reflects analysis, recommendation or conclusion of the investigating officer
• Information that may disclose investigative techniques
• Information that may deprive a person of a fair trial
• Preliminary drafts, notes, or memorandums which are not retained in the ordinary course of business
• Records pertaining to pending litigation to which the City is a party until the litigation is adjudicated or settled
• Personnel, medical or similar file

City staff strive to complete requests for records as quickly as possible. The city must respond to all requests for records within 10 calendar days of receipt of the request. In some circumstances, the city will need to extend the timing of the response an additional 14 days. This is not a guarantee of records but a determination of whether the city is in possession of responsive records.

While the City strives to provide responsive records expeditiously, extensions of time may be needed for one of the following reasons:

• Records are not available in an electronic format and staff must search for and collect the requested records from field facilities;
• The volume of potentially responsive records that need to be reviewed;
• The potentially responsive records require detailed examination and/or redaction prior to release;
• The potentially responsive records require review by the City Attorney prior to release;
• Staff must consult with other agencies or City departments having a substantial interest in the determination of the request;
• Staff must compile data or construct a computer report to extract data.

This is no charge for the inspection of records or for records provided electronically through the City's records request portal (NextRequest). However, there is a charge for the direct cost of duplication. Fees are pursuant to the City’s Book of Fees. Payment must be made prior to release of records requested. If the documents requested exceed 100 pages, a deposit may be requested.