Editor’s Note: Sunshine Request makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Editor’s Note 06/06/25: We apologize for the long delay. The [two] submissions above have both been marked as “Completed”.
1) We don’t know how many records request(s) like this would potentially include, but due to the 10 month+ and 2 year time period(s), as well as the broad nature of what is being requested — as written we find the request(s) to be overly broad.
– It is important what you’re requesting is specific and reasonable. Please specify the exact records you’d like to receive, rather than any “possible” or “potential” info that could be searched.
– When requesting communication records, it’s important to specify the exact type of communications (such as emails, text messages, etc.) being requested, who the communications are “sent to”, “sent from”, or “sent between”, and any specific people / staff / departments etc. that should be included. It’s also important to include a specific date or time period, and any specific subject matter or specific keywords that should be included in the search.
– We recommend limiting communications requests like this to cover a three month time period, or shorter. Remember that the larger the request, the more time it takes to fulfill. If you’d like to request records over a larger time frame, then please include more keywords, to / from addresses etc. to limit the number of responsive records.
– Clarifying this info will help to greatly narrow the scope of the request, and will also reduce the amount of time it takes the Disclosing Agency (as well as our team) to process the request.
2) Sunshine Request is a site built to make requests for public records (recorded info such as documents, emails, and data sets) to government entities. We are a small 3-person team, running the website in addition to our primary business. Due to our availability, the volume of requests we receive, and the time required to fulfill each one — our focus is on fulfilling requests which are in the public interest, and evaluating if there is a public benefit to that info being available.
– We will not fulfill requests for “public safety” type records specific to a single individual, address, incident, case number, etc. This also includes police reports, calls for service, phone numbers, complaints / incident reports / citations, criminal / arrest type records, or camera footage. We will, on a case by case basis, fulfill public safety related requests that focus on system-level trends and data.
– This policy also applies to requests that may include confidential, sensitive, or personally identifying info about Library Patrons and their complaint #s etc. (if that type of info happens to be contained in any of the responsive records you’re hoping to receive).
– Due to the personal nature of the info you (might be) seeking in asking for Public Library patron complaints, we would recommend the sender reaches out directly to the appropriate entity for assistance with the request.
3) Additionally, please note.
Our Team is actively working to resolve 1 request we still have open with Jackson County, NC. We anticipate our next steps regarding this matter will be posted on our website next week. You can keep track of all updates at the following URL:
We hope this matter with Kevin is resolved soon. However, until it is, Sunshine Request ([email protected]) will not be sending the County any new requests for “emails” or “communications” type records through our site.
** Please do not attempt to submit any new requests for “emails” or “communications” type records to Jackson County, NC through our website, or via direct a email to our Team, during this time. Those requests will not be answered by our Team.
If you have additional questions about our site, please check out our FAQs or Policies page.
If you would like to submit a new records request for communications type records for the County to fulfill, please reach out to them directly for assistance outside of our website.
Thank you for your patience and understanding!
Sunshine Request will not fulfill the following types of requests:
☀️ Requests that are incomplete, non-specific, or vague.
While we do proofread requests we receive for general spelling and clarity, we may choose not to fulfill the request if it is incomplete, or it is unclear what specific information the requester hopes to receive. In this case, the sender may rewrite and resubmit the request.
It’s the requester’s responsibility to write the request in a manner that clearly specifies a record that is being requested, and to what government entity it should be sent.
☀️ Requests for public safety information specific to a single individual, address, incident or name.
This includes police reports, calls for service, complaints / incident reports / citations, criminal / arrest type records, or camera footage. We will, on a case by case basis, fulfill public safety related requests that focus on system-level trends and data.
Due to the personal nature of this type of information, we recommend that the sender reach out directly to the appropriate entity for assistance with the request.
☀️ Please be specific:
It is important that what you are requesting is specific and reasonable, and is an actionable records request. Please specify the exact type of records you’d like to receive, rather than any “possible” or “potential” info that could be searched. Remember that the larger your request, the more time it usually takes to fulfill. Specificity will often help reduce the amount of time needed to process the request.
It is important that a request has a clearly written and complete Subject and Message, and also specifies the Government Entity (or entities), City and/or County, and State to which the request should be sent. If applicable, please also include any responsive timelines for the info that should be requested.
While we do proofread requests we receive for general spelling and clarity, we may choose not to fulfill the request if it is incomplete, or it is unclear what specific info the requester hopes to receive, or if it violates our policies.
Before submitting a request, please take a moment to review our tips for How to write and make a successful request. If you have additional questions about our site or how to make requests, please check out our FAQs or Policies page.
☀️ Code of Conduct: Please do not use Sunshine Request or any of the results of public records requests to harass government entities / employees, businesses, private citizens / individuals, or otherwise.
☀️ Please note that we cannot pay any fees / associated costs related to any of the requests on our site. If it is not possible for a Government Agency to process our request without incurring fees, then it is the responsibility of that Agency to let us know what the potential costs may be — at which point we will ask that they cease processing the request. We will mark the request as “Completed” on our site, and the sender can contact the Government Agency directly, should they wish to further pursue a request.
Thank you for using Sunshine Request!