Public Records FAQ

How long will it take for me to get records through a Right-to-Know request?

What can I receive through a Right-to-Know request?

Can I request Keene Police Department records through a Right-to-Know request?

Will the records I receive in a Right-to-Know request be redacted? How can I get unredacted records?

How much does a Right-to-Know request cost?

How long will it take for me to get records through a Right-to-Know request?

The City of Keene is committed to providing access to public records and government transparency, but the time it takes to receive records depends on a number of factors: how complex your request is, how many documents it seeks, whether redactions are necessary, how many other requests have been made before yours, the workload of the staff in the departments with responsive records, and so on.

To make a request that may be more quickly completed, try to keep your request as narrow and specific as possible. And if you are unsure what document to request, please contact the City Clerk’s Office for assistance.

Also, records you’re looking for may already be available online. Please review this page to see what records the City of Keene has made available on its website.

What can I receive through a Right-to-Know request?

Right-to-Know requests can be used to access governmental records that the City of Keene has and maintains. The City of Keene can only provide records that already exist and cannot create documents for you, neither does a Right-to-Know request provide you with general information or answers to questions. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office if you are uncertain which Department can assist you with general questions.

Can I make a request anonymously?

Yes. However, the easiest way for you to receive the requested records is to provide contact information with your request, like an email address or phone number. You may make a Right-to-Know request through the City of Keene’s records request portal, where you will need to provide certain contact information, but you do not need to provide your name. If you do not want to provide any contact information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office to arrange how you might be able to make a request.

Can I request Keene Police Department records through a Right-to-Know request?

Yes, but please use the Keene Police Department Record Request form.

Also, you may be able to request police reports directly from the Keene Police Department if you are a specific party. You may request records directly from the Keene Police Department Bureau of Records if you are either a Victim, Defendant, or lawyer of a Victim or Defendant named in the requested report.

Please note that Accident Reports cannot be provided through a Right-to-Know request by State statute. Persons involved in an accident, their lawyer, or their insurer may request Accident Reports from the Keene Police Department Bureau of Records or from the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles.

To contact the Keene Police Department Bureau of Records, please call: (603) 357-9815

Will the records I receive in a Right-to-Know request be redacted? How can I get unredacted records?

New Hampshire law requires certain information be redacted or removed from records before they are provided in a Right-to-Know request. For example, private information like a Social Security Number, dates of birth, or contact information of private persons will be redacted.

You may be able to receive more information or unredacted records if you are permitted by law to receive such records outside of a Right-to-Know request. If you have questions about particular records and whether you can request them outside of Right-to-Know request, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.

How much does a Right-to-Know request cost?

You may be charged for the actual cost of producing the records, such as the cost paper of copies, a USB flash drive, or a compact disc.

Paper copies:

First page: $0.50

Additional page: $0.25

Postage: Current USPS rate

Electronic copies:

Compact disc: By request. Please contact the City Clerks Office for more information.

Flash drive/USB: Varies – based on the cost of the flash drive.

Emailed records typically do not have a copy cost.

Requests that seek 250 or more “electronic communications” will be subject to an additional fee: As per RSA 91-A:4, VIII, the City of Keene charges a $1.00 charge per communication for requests that seek electronic communications in excess of 250 “electronic communications.” This charge applies whether the records are requested as paper copies or in electronic format.