“Ensuring open and honest government is a bedrock principle of democracy. It can only be attained through the unfettered exchange of information between citizens and their government. A citizen’s right-to-know, sometimes known as freedom of information, fosters accountability, prevents abuses of power and promotes trust in government.”
Traditional Requests:
The Township has adopted a policy to guide responses to public records requests. Those wishing to make such requests are encouraged to first read our policy below. Requests for public records must be made on a form approved by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Requests received after 4:30 PM will be dated the next business day.
Open Records Request Form (PDF)
Appeals:
If a request is for access to a criminal investigative record from New Hanover Township, including from the New Hanover Township Police Department, and is denied or deemed denied, the requester may file an appeal in writing addressed to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, Open Records Appeals Officer, Montgomery County Court House, Norristown, PA 19401. Phone: (610) 278-3090.
If any other request is denied or deemed denied for any reason, the requester may file an appeal in writing with the Pennsylvania State Office of Open Records addressed to: Executive Director, Office of Open Records, 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333. They may also be submitted via email at openrecords@state.pa.us as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment.
In all cases the appeal must be filed within fifteen (15) business days of the mailing date of the Township's notice of denial, or within fifteen (15) days of a deemed denial, and it must: (a) state the grounds upon which the requester asserts that the record is a public record and (b) address any grounds stated by the Township for delaying or denying the request.
Requesting Police Recordings (Video & Audio) in Pennsylvania:
Act 22 of 2017 (specifically, Chapter 67A of the Act) established a new process for requesting audio and video recordings in the possession of law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania.
Act 22 applies to individuals seeking "any audio recording or video recording made by a law enforcement agency." The Right-to-Know Law does not apply to requests for these recordings.
Act 22 defines "law enforcement agency" as:
The Office of the Attorney General;
istrict Attorney's Office; or
An agency that employs a law enforcement officer.
A "law enforcement officer" includes a "member of the Pennsylvania State Police, an individual employed as a police officer who holds a current certificate under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to municipal police education and training), a sheriff or a deputy sheriff."
Requests:
Under Act 22, a request for an audio or video recording in the possession of a law enforcement agency must be made within 60 days of the date the recording was made. Requests must be submitted via personal delivery or certified mail (§67A03).
A written request must be submitted to the Agency Open Records Officer (AORO) for the law enforcement agency that possesses the record. The request is not officially received until it is personally delivered to the AORO, or when it is marked as "delivered" by certified mail.
The request must include:
The date, time and location of the event recorded;
A statement describing the requester's relationship to the event recorded; and
If the recorded incident took place inside a residence, the request must also identify every person present at the time of the recording, unless unknown and not reasonably ascertainable.
Once a request is filed, the agency has 30 days to respond, although the requester and agency can agree to an extension.
The OOR has developed this request form for police recordings to help ensure that requesters include all of the required information.
Click here for more information from the Office of Open Records on this request process.