Record Requests

Record Requests

Record Requests can be made by completing this form. You will receive an email with a link to your request every time we update our response. Please scroll to the bottom of that email, and click the link to track your request. 

The Brattleboro Police Department is required to provide access to public records, unless the record is exempt by law from public access. We will provide a single record within three (3) days of receipt of a request.  Requests are considered “received” between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mailed requests, or requests left at the Dispatch window, will be considered “received” when collected by a member of the Clerical Staff during the hours and days noted above.

While we try to provide records within three (3) business days, requests for records may take up to ten (10) business days to process. If your request will take more than ten (10) days to process, we will attempt to contact you by phone or email within three (3) days of receiving the request. Brattleboro Police Department records are not available for release in their original form and each record must be reviewed prior to release. We reserve the right to request that you narrow your request to facilitate our locating and processing of the record. 
 

Fees

Payment for documents must be made prior to release. When possible, we will be happy to provide documents via email. It is the responsibility of the requestor to provide a valid, working email, and at least one additional form for contact (phone number or mailing address). 

Fees (based on 20 VSA 1815) are charged as follows:

1.  Staff time involved for providing the records will be charged at $1 per minute after the first 30 minutes

2.  Police reports are $20 per incident

3.  Police crash reports are $20 per incident

4.  Police photos are $45 per incident

5.  Police videos are $45 per incident

6.  Police audio recordings are $45 per incident

Records may be picked up and paid for at the Dispatch Window. Payment must be exact as we do not have the ability to make change.

Redaction and Creation of New Records

Police records almost always contain exempt information. Please see the list of exemptions below in italics. No record will be withheld in its entirety simply because it contains some information that is considered exempt. Exempt information will be redacted (blacked out). Examples of the most commonly exempted information are people’s names, dates of birth and medical information.

We may redact or exempt a record if: it could reasonable be expected to interfere with law enforcement proceedings, if it would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication, if it could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, if it could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, or would disclose information furnished by that source, it would disclose techniques, guidelines and procedures for law enforcement investigation or prosecutions, or it could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual.

The Brattleboro Police Department is not required to create a new public record that does not otherwise exist. Our computer system’s report section is limited. If your request would require the creation of a record that doesn’t already exist, you will be notified.

Denial and the Appeal Process

If a public record request is denied, in whole or in part, you may appeal to the Chief of Police. A determination of that appeal will be made within five (5) business days after the receipt of the appeal.