Other LanguagesA discussion of the extent to which the provisions of RCW 42.17.310(1)(d) and (e) prohibit public access to police records.
Under the provisions of RCW 42.17.260 ‑ 42.17.310, a determination that certain records in the custody of a city police department do, or do not, contain specific intelligence information or the identity of persons who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies will not, by and of itself, establish whether the records involved may legally be disclosed to the news media or other members of the public; instead, in each case a further determination must be made, on the basis of the facts of the particular case, whether disclosure will violate an individual's right of personal privacy or a vital governmental interest.