Public Records Act 

The Public Records Act explains that all records maintained by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) are available for public inspection unless law specifically exempts them.

The WSCJTC is committed to transparency to ensure citizens have access to the agency's public records.  All public records requests must be valid, and request an identifiable public document.

 

Submitting a Public Records Request

The WSCJTC utilizes a webform to process all public record requests. The WSCJTC recommends submitting record requests through the Public Records Center as all requests will be processed and provided through that platform unless physical copies are requested. Copying and mailing fees may apply. See below for potential fees.

We will acknowledge requests within 5 (five) business days of receipt and provide an estimated date for records to be produced, unless clarification of your request is necessary to move forward with the request. Please be aware the day your request is submitted does not count towards the 5 day response (RCW 1.12.040). For example, if you submit a request on a Friday, the 5 day response deadline is the following Friday.

Should you have any further questions, please reach out to Public Records Officer, Derek Zable, at Derek.Zable@cjtc.wa.gov.

 

Copying Fees

15 cents per page of physically provided documents

10 cents per page for public records scanned into electronic format

5 cents per each four electronic files or attachments uploaded to email, cloud-based storage, or other means of electronic delivery

10 cents per gigabyte for the transmission of publics records in an electronic format

The actual costs of any digital storage media or device provided by the agency, actual cost of envelope, and postage

The agency shall not charge for records provides routinely on the website, unless the requestor has specifically requested copies be made through other means.

 

Question Answer

How long does it take to obtain training records?

The Public Records Officer has five business days to respond to your initial public records request.  In that response, there will be further explanation regarding your request and will include a response date, unless clarification is required to proceed with the request. Time to produce records will vary by complexity of request and installments of records may be necessary.

Can I get a copy of a certificate?

No.  We do not provide replacement certificates.  A transcript will confirm a completed course, including BLEA and COA. Please contact recordsrequests@cjtc.wa.gov to request a copy of an officer’s transcript.  If you are a member of law enforcement requesting your or a background’s transcript, please contact Certmail@cjtc.wa.gov

What do the records cost?

Starting Oct 10, 2022 the WSCJTC will provide the equivalent of 100 physical pages or 250 electronic pages before incurring copying fees. Copying fees are as follows:

15 cents per page of physically provided documents
10 cents per page for public records scanned into electronic format
5 cents per each four electronic files or attachments uploaded to email, cloud-based storage, or other means of electronic delivery
10 cents per gigabyte for the transmission of publics records in an electronic format
The actual costs of any digital storage media or device provided by the agency, actual cost of envelope, and postage

 

The agency shall not charge for records provided routinely on the website, unless the requestor has specifically requested copies be made through other means.

Are Social Security Numbers on training records?

SSN are on training history reports. Verification is required to receive an unredacted record. Otherwise, all training records with SSN will be redacted.

What is on a transcript? Do you have a Record Index?

A WSCJTC transcript lists all WSCJTC sponsored courses completed and the number of hours per course.  It includes courses failed and otherwise not completed. 

The WSCJTC is developing a records index as part of our WAC updates starting on 10/10/2022. It will take time to develop and gather the records. Progress on the index will be updated here.

How do I get a copy of other records or curricular materials?

For "other" records requests, please include:

  • A description of your request
  • Dates and Names- if applicable

For curriculum, please note:

Document retention for mandated curriculum is for six years, and three years for non-mandated.  After the prescribed number of years, materials are processed for destruction.   We do post past BLEA and COA Syllabus on our Curriculum Page.  For a current copy of any course, please send your request through the Public Records Centerwith the name and date of the course.

For other courses:

SFST - Standardized Field Sobriety Testing – contact National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Can I inspect records at the agency?

Records are available for inspection by requesting the identifiable public records you wish to inspect and then scheduling an appointment with the public records officer. If you have more questions regarding scheduling an inspection, please contact Derek.Zable@cjtc.wa.gov. 
 

What is your document retention?

The WSCJTC complies with state records retention requirements. For the general state records retention and the WSCJTC specific record schedule, please click here.

How can I otherwise submit a public records request?

Public record requests can be submitted by email, phone, letter, or in-person. There is no official means to submit a public records request. However, all public record requests will be processed and provided through the public records portal, unless providing physical copies is requested. Copying and mailing fees may apply.

Can I request to receive a record via email?

The WSCJTC utilizes the Public Records Center to receive and provide all public records, unless sent by letter. Should you be experiencing any difficulties with accessing the website or downloading a record, please first  update your internet browser or contact derek.zable@cjtc.wa.gov.

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