Thurston County facilities are open to the public with safety measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect public and employee health. Learn more here.

Public Records Disclosure
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​​In accordance with Governor’s Proclamation 20-28 and all subsequent extensions, Thurston County is currently not providing for or arranging for in-person PRA business contact with the public at our offices. You may still submit a request online through the Public Records Request Portal, via US mail to the Public Records Officer or to one of the PRA coordinators, or by email.

Please note that normal turnaround times may be delayed as staff and resources are impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis.  We will endeavor to process PRA requests as quickly as we are able.

 

​Many Thurston County Agency records are available on the Thurston County Web site at no cost.
Requesters are encouraged to view the documents available here and on Thurston County Agencies' Web sites prior to submitting a records request.

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:

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 above 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.

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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:

Karen Horowitz serves as the Public Records Officer for Thurston County.

She can be contacted by mail at:

Karen Horowitz
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.