Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

​Right to Know Law

Notice: The following information is deemed accurate, but does not constitute and is not intended to provide legal advice. Anyone needing such advice or seeking guidance for decisions and actions involving the Right to Know Law should consult a legal professional.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law (RTKL), 65 P. S. §§ 67.101-67.3104, provides citizens the right of access to public records, and sets forth the conditions under which a document maintained by a Commonwealth agency is deemed a public record. It also imposes time limits within which an agency must respond to requests for public records, and provides a process whereby the requester may file an appeal when a request for information is denied in whole or part.

Requests for public records information under the RTKL relating to the Office of Victim Advocate (OVA) shall be made and directed to:

Andrew Filkosky
Agency Open Records Officer
Department of Corrections
Right-To-Know Law Office
Office of Chief Counsel
1920 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Phone: 717.728.7763
Fax: 717.728.0312

Email: RA-docrighttoknow@pa.gov

Office Hours:  9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday to Friday

The PBPP RTKL Request Form (pdf)

Commonwealth's Office of Open Records

Right to Know Law Policy (pdf) for the OVA, effective May 11, 2010, includes the relevant fee schedule.

The Commonwealth’s Office of Open Records FEE SCHEDULE

When a request is denied or deemed denied, whether in whole or in part, the requester may file an appeal with the Office of Open Records, where it will be assigned to an Appeals Officer. This appeal must be filed within 15 business days of the denial or deemed denied. The appeal must state the grounds upon which the requester asserts that the record is public and should address any grounds stated by the agency for delaying or denying the request. The appeal shall be sent to:

The Commonwealth Office of Open Records
Commonwealth Keystone Building
333 Market Street - 16th Floor
Harrisburg, PA  17101-2234
Phone: 717.346.9903
Email: openrecords@pa.gov