Craig Jackson – October 2, 2024

Under the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132), North Carolina public records law ensures that all citizens have the right to access public documents. Public agencies are required to respond to each public records request as a unique, standalone inquiry, and they must do so in a timely and transparent manner.

However, it has come to our attention that Currituck County has developed a pattern of responding to public records requests with vague statements such as, “As of this date, all public record documents in possession of Currituck County that are responsive to your request have been released. This request is complete and closed.” These types of responses fail to inform requesters how or where to find previously released records, which may make it difficult for citizens to access the information they’re entitled to.

Under North Carolina law, this type of response is unacceptable. Public agencies are legally obligated to provide the requested records, clearly indicate how to access them, or give a lawful reason for denial. If a requester is not given sufficient guidance on where to find previously released documents, the agency may be in violation of the law.

Should any citizen receive such a non-compliant response, they are encouraged to contact Blackwater Reports for further assistance. Contact us at staff(@) blackwater reports.org, and we’ll help guide you through the process of ensuring your rights under North Carolina’s public records law are respected.

Please remember that your tax-deductible donations allow us to fight for transparency in Currituck County government. Donations are not required to request assistance.

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