Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests
The Batesville Police Department, as reflected by our policy, is dedicated to integrity and transparency. We strive to provide our citizens with the information they request while upholding Arkansas law and protecting legal integrity and the personal information of the public. We strongly encourage those seeking to submit a request take the time to understand what the department can and cannot provide.
For more, see our official statement here.
A.C.A. § 25-19-105. Examination and copying of public records--Exceptions
Submit a request online through our FOIA Request Form or by emailing foia@batesvillepolicear.gov.
NOTICE:
The Batesville Police Department does not maintain dispatch records such as CAD sheets, audio or recordings. You will have to contact Independence County Dispatch for that information.
If there is an ACTIVE CASE, a FOIA request will not be fulfilled if the requested information is subject to the investigation. If you are a defendant, you or your attorney of record will need to file a discovery motion through the court where your case is being heard.
Important Information:
- The requestor must be a citizen of the State of Arkansas
- Records are available for review/copy during regular business hours
- Requestor must not have pleaded or been found guilty of a Felony and be incarcerated, nor a representative of said person, unless the representative is the person's attorney of record
- Request must be "sufficiently specific" so that the custodian can locate records with reasonable effort
Law Enforcement related exemptions include, but are not limited to:
- Undisclosed investigations by law enforcement agencies of suspected criminal activity
- Documents that are protected from disclosure by order or rule of court
- The number and names of undercover law enforcement officers
- Cybersecurity sensitive information (password, login credentials, etc.)
Requesting Copies of Records
A citizen may request a copy of public records, but our department is not required to compile information or create a record in response to a request. Furthermore, except as provided in A.C.A. § 25-19-109, the requestor may pay a fee for copies not to exceed the cost or reproduction in addition to costs associated with mailing or transmitting (charges will be itemized). Copies received will have exempted information deleted or redacted.
Contact Information:
|
Website: |
Email: |
|
Mail: |
Fax: |
Reproduction Fees (Current Rates)
All FOIA requests/reproductions incur a cost of $0.25 per page printed and if necessary, incur $0.30 per envelope as well as $0.51 per stamp. Files released electronically on physical media (discs, thumb drives, etc.) will be charged the reimbursement of the cost of the media used.
Additionally, when audio, video or audio/video records are requested, but require redaction of information, the fee will be $20.00 per hour of runtime (prorated) if the time required to process the record(s) exceeds three (3) hours. (ACA § § 25-19-112)
Example: A bodyworn camera video that is an hour and a half (1.5) long contains visual information that must be redacted, and requires a working time of three and a half (3.5) hours. The fee would be $30 due to the 1.5 hours runtime ($20 x 1.5), and payment would be made prior to the video being processed plus any additional reimbursement fees incurred.
All payments must be made prior to release of requested copies, and requests with fees in excess of $25.00 will need to be paid before the records are processed, printed or copied.
