 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS GREG ABBOTT | |
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March 30, 2005 Mr. Douglas E. Manning
OR2005-02679 Dear Mr. Manning: You ask whether certain information is subject to required public disclosure under the Public Information Act (the "Act"), chapter 552 of the Government Code. Your request was assigned ID# 220920. The Orange County Sheriff's Office (the "sheriff") received two requests from the same requestor for information relating to a specified case. You state that you have provided the requestor with a portion of the requested information. You claim, however, that the remaining requested information is excepted from disclosure under section 552.108 of the Government Code. We have considered the exception you claim and reviewed the submitted information. We have also considered comments submitted by the requestor. See Gov't Code § 552.304 (providing that interested party may submit comments stating why information should or should not be released). Initially, we note that a portion of the submitted information consists of press releases that have been previously released to the news media. As the sheriff has previously voluntarily released this information, which we have marked, to the public, it may not now withhold such information under section 552.108. See Gov't Code § 552.007 (prohibiting selective disclosure of information); Open Records Decision Nos. 490 (1988), 463 (1987) (if governmental body voluntarily releases information to one member of public, the predecessor to the Act's exceptions to disclosure are waived unless information is deemed confidential), 177 (1977) (governmental body may waive statutory predecessor to section 552.108); but see Open Records Decision No. 400 (1983) (prohibition against selective disclosure does not apply when governmental body releases confidential information to the public). Next, we note that the submitted information includes an executed search warrant and supporting affidavit. Section 552.022 of the Government Code provides in part: (a) Without limiting the amount or kind of information that is public information under this chapter, the following categories of information are public information and not excepted from required disclosure under this chapter unless they are expressly confidential under other law: . . . (17) information that is also contained in the public court record[.] Gov't Code § 552.022(a)(17). Section 552.022(a)(17) makes the executed search warrant, which has been filed with a court, expressly public. Therefore, the sheriff may withhold this information only to the extent it is made confidential under other law. Although the sheriff raises section 552.108 for this information, this exception is discretionary and thus, does not make information confidential. See Open Records Decision No. 665 at 2 n.5 (2000) (discretionary exceptions generally). Therefore, the search warrant may not be withheld under section 552.108 of the Government Code. As the sheriff raises no further exceptions to the disclosure of this information, it must be released. The release of a search warrant affidavit is governed by article 18.01 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides in part: (b) No search warrant shall issue for any purpose in this state unless sufficient facts are first presented to satisfy the issuing magistrate that probable cause does in fact exist for its issuance. A sworn affidavit setting forth substantial facts establishing probable cause shall be filed in every instance in which a search warrant is requested. The affidavit is public information if executed, and the magistrate's clerk shall make a copy of the affidavit available for public inspection in the clerk's office during normal business hours. Crim. Proc. Code art. 18.01(b). This provision makes the submitted search warrant affidavit expressly public. The exceptions found in the Act do not, as a general rule, apply to information that is made public by other statutes. See Open Records Decision No. 525 (1989) (statutory predecessor). Therefore, pursuant to article 18.01(b), the sheriff must release the submitted search warrant affidavit. We also note that the submitted information includes an arrest warrant and an arrest warrant affidavit. The release of this information is governed by article 15.26 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides: The arrest warrant, and any affidavit presented to the magistrate in support of the issuance of the warrant, is public information, and beginning immediately when the warrant is executed the magistrate's clerk shall make a copy of the warrant and the affidavit available for public inspection in the clerk's office during normal business hours. A person may request the clerk to provide copies of the warrant and affidavit on payment of the cost of providing the copies. Crim Proc. Code art. 15.26. These provisions make the submitted arrest warrant and arrest warrant affidavit expressly public. The exceptions found in the Act do not, as a general rule, apply to information that is made public by other statutes. See Open Records Decision No. 525 (1989) (statutory predecessor). Therefore, the sheriff must release the submitted arrest warrant and arrest warrant affidavit. We now address your claim under section 552.108 with respect to the remaining submitted information. Section 552.108(a) of the Government Code 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). You state that the information at issue relates to an ongoing criminal investigation. Based on your representations and our review, we determine that the release of the remaining submitted 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). However, section 552.108 does not except from disclosure basic information about an arrested person, an arrest, or a crime. Gov't Code § 552.108(c). We believe such basic information refers to the information held to be public in Houston Chronicle, including a detailed description of the offense and the arrestee's social security number. See 531 S.W.2d at 185; see also Open Records Decision No. 127 (1976) (summarizing types of information made public by Houston Chronicle). Thus, you must release the types of information that are considered to be front page offense report information, even if this information is not actually located on the front page of the offense report.(1) Although the arrestee's social security number is considered basic information, it must be withheld in some circumstances under section 552.101 of the Government Code in conjunction with the 1990 amendments to the federal Social Security Act. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I).(2) These amendments make confidential social security numbers and related records that are obtained or maintained by a state agency or political subdivision of the state pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. See id. We have no basis for concluding that the social security number in the file is confidential under section 405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I), and therefore excepted from public disclosure under section 552.101 on the basis of that federal provision. We caution, however, that section 552.352 of the Government Code imposes criminal penalties for the release of confidential information. Prior to releasing any social security number information, you should ensure that such information is not obtained or maintained by the sheriff pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990. In summary, the sheriff must release the marked press releases pursuant to section 552.007 of the Government Code. The submitted search warrant, search warrant affidavit, arrest warrant, and arrest warrant affidavit are expressly public and must be released. With the exception of basic information, the remaining submitted information may be withheld under section 552.108(a)(1) of the Government Code. The arrestee's social security number may be confidential under federal law. 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, upon receiving this ruling, the governmental body will either release the public records promptly pursuant to section 552.221(a) of the Government Code or file a lawsuit challenging this ruling pursuant to section 552.324 of the Government Code. If the governmental body fails to do one of these things, 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); Tex. 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, Lauren E. Kleine
c: Mr. Otis Owens
Footnotes 1. Although section 552.108(a)(1) authorizes you to withhold the remaining information at issue from disclosure, you may choose to release all or part of this information that is not otherwise confidential by law. See Gov't Code § 552.007. 2. Section 552.101 excepts from disclosure "information considered to be confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision." Gov't Code § 552.101. This section encompasses information other statutes make confidential. POST OFFICE BOX 12548, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2548 TEL: (512) 463-2100 WEB:WWW.OAG.STATE.TX.US |