Need more information? Check out our guides to Rhode Island arrest records and Rhode Island background checks.

 

What are public records?

Public records are documents held by the government that members the general public has the right to access and view. They may exist as tangible paper copies of records held by in a government repository or as electronic records within an online database. 

Common types of public records include criminal records, court records, and vital records such as birth and death certificates. Public records can be accessed by the general public by making a public records request to the appropriate government agency.

Which federal law deals with public records in the United States? 

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of 1967 is the major federal law regarding public records in the United States. The FOIA requires federal government agencies to release documents to the public when they make a records request, as long as the record in question doesn’t fall under one of nine exemptions outlined in the law. However, most people do not take advantage of the FOIA, and most record requests are made by businesses, law firms, and professionals.

Generally, if public records are to be used for a commercial purpose, the requester of the record must notify the agency of their intent while submitting the request.  

What is Rhode Island’s public records law?

The Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act guarantees the public the right to access public records held by government agencies at all levels in the state. The law defines public records as all documents, regardless of physical form, that relate to the business of a government agency. 

In Rhode Island, anyone can make a public records request without declaring a statement of purpose, and the main restriction on the use of records is that they may not be used for commercial solicitation. Under the law, agencies have a 10-day time limit to respond to a public records request. 

Examples of Rhode Island Public Records

Rhode Island public records include, but are not limited to:

The following are NOT public records in Rhode Island:

Where can I access Rhode Island public records?

Business Records

Court Records

Criminal Records

Historical Records

Sex Offender Information

Vital Records

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