Public Records Disclosure
How to Submit a Public Records Request Using the Online Portal:
You can submit a public records request online through the Public Records Request Portal.
When making your request please be as specific as possible so we can conduct a thorough and accurate search.
Additional Information:
For more information, please review Thurston County's policy regarding the Public Records Act. Thurston County follows specific procedures regarding the handling of Public Records Requests.
The Public Records Act provides that a number of types of documents and/or parts of documents are exempt from public inspection and copying. Following is more information about Exemptions from Disclosure:
- Washington State Office of the Attorney General
- Exemptions and Prohibition Statutes Not Listed in Chapter 42.56 RCW (Procedure Appendix B)
Standard Fees for Public Records:
Thurston County has adopted the charges set forth in RCW 42.56.120(2), as may be amended, as the fees and costs which may be charged for providing public records requested under the Public Records Act.
Those charges include:
| Type of Copies | Charge for Copies |
| Photocopies, printed copies of electronic records when requested, use of County equipment to make copies | 15 cents per page |
| Scanned records, use of County equipment for scanning | 10 cents per page |
| Records uploaded to email, or cloud based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery | 5 cents per each 4 electronic files or attachments |
| Records transmitted in electronic format or for use of County equipment to send records electronically | 10 cents per gigabyte |
| Digital media storage or devices | Actual cost |
| Any container or envelope used to mail copies | Actual cost |
| Postage or delivery charges | Actual cost |
| Copy charges may be combined to the extent more than one type of charge applies to responsive copies. | |
| Customized service charge: When the request would require the use of IT expertise to prepare data compilations or when such customized access services are not used by the County for other business purposes. | Actual cost. The County must notify the requester that it will be doing a customized service and can require a 10 percent deposit. |
| Body worn camera records: Thurston County may require any requester not listed in RCW 42.56.240(e) to pay the reasonable costs of redacting body worn camera recordings. | $0.48 per minute of actual staff time spent redacting body worn camera recording. The County may require a 10 percent deposit. The cost study is available here. |
Further, where state or federal law sets a particular fee for searching records, research, and/or providing a copy of a record, that fee will be charged.
Please check with the specific Thurston County agency providing the records for further information about the applicable charges for records.
Public Records Officer:
Sara Meath serves as the Public Records Officer for Thurston County.
She can be contacted by mail at:
Sara Meath
Public Records Officer
Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW
Olympia, WA 98502
She can be reached by telephone at (360) 754-4998, or by email at the official Thurston County Public Records Request e-mail address.
Alternative Means of Submitting a Public Records Request:
If you prefer not to use the online portal, please direct your request to the Public Records Officer or the Public Records Coordinator in the office or department from which you are seeking records. The request form is available here or in person at any Thurston County office or department. A current list of Thurston County’s Public Records Coordinators is available HERE
If you wish to email your request, it will only be accepted at the official Thurston County Public Records Request e-mail address. As of October of 2010, the County's e-mail system limits e-mail attachments to 20 megabytes. The County's e-mail system capacity may change without notice. The County does not warrant or in any way guarantee the accuracy or completeness of electronic records.
Public Documents Available on the Thurston County Web Site
Many Thurston County records are available on the Thurston County website at no cost. Following is a list of reference links to documents that are available on the county’s website. Additional records may be available on the office/department’s website, so you are encouraged to visit the agency’s website and review the documents available prior to submitting a records request.