Public Records Requests
Birth, Death & Marriage certificates are not public records. Contact Vital Records for birth, death, and marriage certificates.
The Department of Health adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq., and has instituted the following procedures for the public to obtain public records.
- Requests for records may be submitted online through the NextRequest portal, mailed to the Rhode Island Department of Health ATTN: Pamela Lopes, Suite 404, Three Capitol Hill, Providence RI 02908, faxed to 401-222-1797, delivered in person or emailed to pamela.lopes@health.ri.gov. You are not required to provide identification or the reason you seek the information, and your right to access public records will not depend upon providing identification or reasons. To ensure that you are provided with the public records in an efficient manner, we ask that you complete your request via the NextRequest portal. If you are mailing in your request, please use the Public Records Request Form available through our website's Public Records Request Form.
Other Important Information:
- The Rhode Island Department of Health considers the confidentiality of its records a priority under federal and state laws but recognizes the right of access to the public records pursuant to R. I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1 et. Seq.
- The Department of Health, Legal Services, will decide as to whether the records are public. A "public record" is defined as "documents, papers,… or other material regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency." Although a document may constitute a public record, there may be some information contained within the document that may be redacted/deleted as it is exempt from disclosure under R. I. Gen. Laws §38-2-2.
- The Access to Public Records Act allows a citizen the opportunity to inspect and/ or to copy public records. The cost per copied page of written public documents will be $.15 per page and an hourly rate not to exceed $15.00 (fifteen) dollars per hour for time spent for the search and retrieval of documents, with no charge for the first hour. If the request requires a charge to be assessed, due to the way the information is stored, a charge will be made for the actual production and/or reproduction cost. The Department of Health, Legal Services, will provide an estimate of charges, allowing for a retraction or amendment to the request, prior to any further action by the Department of Health.
- To better understand what records are accessible and to review the pertinent laws regarding Open Government, you may obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s Guide to Open Government, which can be found on the Rhode Island Attorney General's website (then proceed to the link entitled “Access open government resources”).
- Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for "good cause." We appreciate your understanding and patience.
- Any person or entity who receives a denial for copies of requested records or the ability to inspect records may petition the Director of the Department of Health, Attention Legal Services, Suite 404, Three Capitol Hill, Providence RI 02908, for a review of the determinations made by its staff. The Director shall make a final determination whether or not to allow public inspection within ten (10) business days. If the denial is confirmed, the individual has a right to file a review petition with the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office. Nothing prohibits a person from instituting proceedings in Superior Court of the county where the record is maintained.
- The Rhode Island Department of Health is committed to providing public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.
Online submission of an APRA request provides requesters with the ability to track progress and receive records electronically. The NextRequest online form can be completed here: NextRequest online form. Instructions on completing the online form can be found below:
If, after review of your request, the Department determines that the requested records are exempt from disclosure for a reason set forth in the Access to Public Records Act, the Department reserves its right to claim such exemption.
Note: If you choose to pick up the records, but did not include identifying information on this form (name, etc.), please contact Pamela Lopes at 401-222-1036 with the date you made the request and the records requested. Thank you