 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS GREG ABBOTT | |
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January 28, 2005 Mr. Alan Ozuna
OR2005-00847 Dear Mr. Ozuna: You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 217699. The City of Somerset (the "city"), which you represent, received a request for a specific sworn statement by a city police officer. You claim that the requested information is excepted from disclosure under sections 552.101, 552.103, and 552.108 of the Government Code.(1) We have considered the exceptions you claim and reviewed the submitted information. Section 552.108(a)(1) excepts from disclosure "[i]nformation held by a law enforcement agency or prosecutor that deals with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime . . . if: (1) release of the information would interfere with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime." Gov't Code § 552.108(a)(1). Generally, a governmental body claiming section 552.108 must reasonably explain how and why the release of the requested information would interfere with law enforcement. See Gov't Code §§ 552.108(a)(1), (b)(1), .301(e)(1)(A); see also Ex parte Pruitt, 551 S.W.2d 706 (Tex. 1977). This office has determined that where an incident involving alleged criminal conduct is still under active investigation or prosecution, section 552.108 may be invoked by any proper custodian of information that relates to the incident. See Open Records Decision Nos. 474 (1987), 372 (1983). In such a situation, the agency that is acting as proper custodian must demonstrate that the information relates to the pending case and provide this office with a representation from the law enforcement entity that is investigating or prosecuting the incident indicating that it wishes to withhold the information. You inform us that the requested information relates to a pending criminal investigation by the Bexar County District Attorney's Office (the "DA"). We have received correspondence from the DA confirming that the requested information relates to a pending criminal investigation. The DA also states that he objects to the release of the requested information. Based upon these representations, we conclude that release of the requested information would interfere with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime. See Houston Chronicle Publ'g Co. v. City of Houston, 531 S.W.2d 177 (Tex. Civ. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1975), writ ref'd n.r.e. per curiam, 536 S.W.2d 559 (Tex. 1976) (court delineates law enforcement interests that are present in active cases). Accordingly, the city may withhold the requested information under section 552.108 of the Government Code.(2) This letter ruling is limited to the particular records at issue in this request and limited to the facts as presented to us; therefore, this ruling must not be relied upon as a previous determination regarding any other records or any other circumstances. This ruling triggers important deadlines regarding the rights and responsibilities of the governmental body and of the requestor. For example, governmental bodies are prohibited from asking the attorney general to reconsider this ruling. Gov't Code § 552.301(f). If the governmental body wants to challenge this ruling, the governmental body must appeal by filing suit in Travis County within 30 calendar days. Id. § 552.324(b). In order to get the full benefit of such an appeal, the governmental body must file suit within 10 calendar days. Id. § 552.353(b)(3), (c). If the governmental body does not appeal this ruling and the governmental body does not comply with it, then both the requestor and the attorney general have the right to file suit against the governmental body to enforce this ruling. Id. § 552.321(a). If this ruling requires the governmental body to release all or part of the requested information, the governmental body is responsible for taking the next step. Based on the statute, the attorney general expects that, within 10 calendar days of this ruling, the governmental body will do one of the following three things: 1) release the public records; 2) notify the requestor of the exact day, time, and place that copies of the records will be provided or that the records can be inspected; or 3) notify the requestor of the governmental body's intent to challenge this letter ruling in court. If the governmental body fails to do one of these three things within 10 calendar days of this ruling, then the requestor should report that failure to the attorney general's Open Government Hotline, toll free, at (877) 673-6839. The requestor may also file a complaint with the district or county attorney. Id. § 552.3215(e). If this ruling requires or permits the governmental body to withhold all or some of the requested information, the requestor can appeal that decision by suing the governmental body. Id. § 552.321(a); Texas Dep't of Pub. Safety v. Gilbreath, 842 S.W.2d 408, 411 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no writ). Please remember that under the Act the release of information triggers certain procedures for costs and charges to the requestor. If records are released in compliance with this ruling, be sure that all charges for the information are at or below the legal amounts. Questions or complaints about over-charging must be directed to Hadassah Schloss at the Texas Building and Procurement Commission at (512) 475-2497. If the governmental body, the requestor, or any other person has questions or comments about this ruling, they may contact our office. We note that a third party may challenge this ruling by filing suit seeking to withhold information from a requestor. Gov't Code § 552.325. Although there is no statutory deadline for contacting us, the attorney general prefers to receive any comments within 10 calendar days of the date of this ruling. Sincerely, Caroline E. Cho
c: Ms. Shauna Lewis
Footnotes 1. You also claim section 552.305 of the Government Code as an exception to disclosure. However, section 552.305 does not except information from disclosure under the Public Information Act (the "Act"). Rather, this section is a procedural provision permitting a governmental body to decline to release information that may implicate a person's privacy or property interest for the purpose of requesting a decision from this office as provided for under the Act. See Gov't Code § 552.305; Open Records Decision No. 542 (1990). 2. As our ruling is dispositive, we need not address your remaining arguments against disclosure. POST OFFICE BOX 12548, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2548 TEL: (512) 463-2100 WEB:WWW.OAG.STATE.TX.US |