Open Records Workbench

A browser-local request builder, deadline guide, response ledger, appeal kit, and records-production workflow for California and federal requests.

Public-interest problem

Public-records laws are powerful, but procedural ambiguity and weak tracking routinely turn a valid request into an indefinite correspondence chain.

Primary users

Residents, journalists, researchers, advocates, neighborhood groups, and small organizations seeking identifiable public records.

Current tools & deliverables

What the project produces

Jurisdiction-aware request builder
Request and production tracker
Appeal and clarification language
Evidence-log export
Custodian and exemption research method

Operating workflow

01Define the decision or claim the records must answer.
02Identify the agency, custodian, system, record type, and date range.
03Submit a narrow request and preserve proof of delivery.
04Log determinations, extensions, productions, fees, and exemption claims.
05Review completeness, request segregable portions, and escalate with specificity.

Data, privacy & limitations

Builders and working templates operate in the browser. CTI does not receive the information entered. Published work follows source provenance, PII minimization, lawful-access, right-of-reply, correction, and anti-doxxing standards.

CTI does not submit requests, guarantee production dates, or provide legal representation. Local laws and agency procedures vary.

Roadmap

Next development stage

Add jurisdiction modules, a browser-local deadline calculator, exemption annotations, and printable correspondence packets after legal and accessibility review.

Use the project

Move from the project file to the working method.

Open related guide