Records Exemptions
Public records which are not specifically protected by state statute are available for disclosure under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 42.56, the Public Records Act.
Exemptions
- Complainant, victim or witness requested the information not be disclosed. (RCW 42.56.240(2))
- Disclosure of the information would endanger a person's life, physical safety or property. (RCW 42.56.240(2))
- Record includes information non-disclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement. (RCW 42.56.240(1))
- Record contains information the non-disclosure of which is necessary for the protection of the person's right to privacy. (RCW 42.56.240(1) as defined by RCW 42.56.050)
- Record contains information on a juvenile, which is confidential, and may not be released to the public except by court order under provisions of RCW 13.50.050 and RCW 13.50.100 (4)(a) and (b). [Also see: child victims of sexual assaults, identification confidential.] (RCW 10.97.130; and RCW 42.56.240(5))
- Investigative files currently active with the Prosecutor's Office and non-disclosure is essential to effective law enforcement. (RCW 42.56.240(1))
- Information protected under the Criminal Records Privacy Act. (RCW 10.97)
- Record contains attorney/client information, protected under RCW 5.60.060(2).
- Contains official confidential information, protected under RCW 5.60.060(5).
- Booking photos are protected under RCW 70.48.100.
- Record contains medical information protected under RCW 70.02.005.
- Driver's or vehicle registration is protected under RCW 46.12.380.
- Traffic accident reports are confidential and protected under RCW 46.12.380.
- Results of toxicology or Field Sobriety Tests submitted to at the request of a police officer are protected under provisions of RCW 46.61.506(7).
- Reports and records of autopsies and postmortems are confidential, protected under RCW 68.50.105.