Agency contacted: Bibb County Sheriff’s Office

Records that were requested: Contract for ifoa (portal they use to manage open records requests)

When do you first hear back from the agency?

I submitted the request on Oct. 13, 2022 and first heard back on Oct. 17, 2022. It took two business days for them to get back to me. In the initial response, they explained that they needed more time to complete the request and gave me the full record on Oct. 19, 2022, four business days after the request was submitted.

Did the agency request a fee and if so, how did they explain the charge?

No, they did not request a fee.

Describe the response.

In the initial response on Oct. 17, they said it would take more time to complete my request and that “We have forwarded your request to the appropriate department to retrieve the requested  information and you will be notified as soon as the information becomes available.” 

In the second response on Oct. 19, they sent me an email with a link to the document for the completed request.

Assign a grade for contact/process. A. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office had an easily accessible portal to request the record. It was easy to fill out and sent confirmation of the request to my email, so overall it was transparent and easy to use.

Assign a grade for response. B. They acknowledged my request within the three-day requirement, but they provided the records in four business days.

Anything else to note? Overall it was easy to request and receive the records I requested.

See the full report card here.

Grading scale for agency’s ease of contacting agency staff and finding or filing for public records.

A: Agency uses an online portal or has a clearly defined process or contact on its website for requesting public records. An “A” agency may also provide the most commonly requested records on its website already such as agendas and meeting minutes.

B: Agency has some public information online such as meeting agendas or meeting times but additional information on how to request public information is not available.

C: Agency website has contact information for staff but nothing specific about how to request public information.

D: Agency has limited contact information on its website but it is not clearly labeled and/or easily accessible.

F: Agency contact information or how to get public records is not available on the website 

Grade scale for agency’s overall responsiveness and compliance with open records law

A: Provided records within the three-day window or less

B Acknowledgment of request within the three-day requirement but records were provided after three days.

C:  Acknowledged the request but then put forth a long timetable for response or requested a high fee or retrieval price for what should be a digital record and/or PDF that could be emailed.

D: Acknowledged the request but no further information or follow-up.

F:  No response