Request public information
To request public information using our online tool click the “Online Form” button. If you prefer to download the document using the “Download Form” button. For additional instructions or for more information read the fact sheet below.
Public Information Fact Sheet
The Public Information Act provides a mechanism for citizens to inspect or copy government records. It also provides for instances in which governmental bodies, within narrow parameters permitted by the Act, may wish to or when they are required by law to, withhold government records from the public. The Public Information Act provides that a governmental body must respond promptly to a request for information within ten business days upon receipt.
The majority of the information contained in police offense, incident, arrest, and accident reports collected and maintained by the police department is considered public information by law and is available to citizens or the media.
Pursuant to exceptions cited in the Texas Government Code Section 552.101 - Section 552.1425, certain information is not subject to release. Exceptions include confidential information (such as social security numbers, medical information, juvenile information, the identity of sexual assault victims, information that contained highly intimate or embarrassing facts about a person's private affairs, etc., and details that may interfere with the detection, investigation or prosecution of crime, usually meaning anything other than the first page of an offense report).
Public Information Request
Q&A
How do I make a public information request?
The request must be in writing and must be addressed to the governmental body. While the request does not need to be addressed to any particular person, it is a good practice to clearly label your correspondence as "Public Information Request" or "Open Records Request". Requests sent via fax or email must be addressed to the public information officer or to the person designated by that officer to receive such requests.
What should I say in my public information request?
No "magic language" is required to trigger the Public Information Act. You should, however, make the request as clear and as specific as possible. This will enable the governmental body to identify exactly what information you are requesting.
How long does the governmental body have to respond to my request for information?
The Act provides that a governmental body must respond "promptly" to a request for information. If a governmental body is unable to produce the requested information within ten business days, the officer for public information must send you correspondence certifying that he is unable to do so and he must set a date and time when the records will be available to you.
If the information you request falls within one of the exceptions to disclosure found in the Public Information Act, the governmental body may refuse to release the information while it seeks an open records decision from the Attorney General. Unless the governmental body has a previous determination from a court or the Attorney General regarding the precise information requested, a governmental body cannot determine on its own to withhold information.
What procedures must be followed if a governmental body wishes to withhold information?
Within ten business days of receiving a written request, the governmental body must:
1. write the Attorney General, asking for a decision and state which exceptions apply to the requested information;
2. provide the requestor with a written statement that the governmental body wishes to withhold the information and that it has asked the Attorney General for a decision;
3. provide the requestor with a copy of the governmental body's correspondence to the Attorney General; and
4. make a good faith attempt to notify, in the form prescribed by the Attorney General, any affected third parties of the request.
Within fifteen business days of receiving your request, the governmental body must:
1. write the Attorney General and explain how the claimed exceptions apply;
2. provide a copy of your written request to the Attorney General;
3. provide a signed statement to the Attorney General stating the date the request was received by the governmental body or provide evidence sufficient to establish the date the request was received; and
4. Provide copies of the documents requested or a representative sample of the documents to the Attorney General and the documents must be labeled to show which exceptions apply to which parts of the documents.
The SPD will provide, in the interim, information deemed releasable under applicable statutes, but nothing more, pending the AGO ruling.
Requests for offense reports only are usually provided at no cost. However, costs are incurred for the reproduction of other media types and may include charges for labor, overhead, and other actual costs. SPD must provide the requestor with a written estimate of charges if the cost will exceed $40 before the requestor is obligated.
You also have the right to make subsequent requests. If you have any questions, please contact the Records Office at 903-892-7359.
For additional information regarding the Public Information Act, refer to the Office of Attorney General of Texas.