Privacy/Security Policy

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender recognizes the importance of privacy to our Web site visitors. Therefore, visitors should be aware of the following information. This policy may change in the future, so please check back frequently

PUBLIC RECORDS

Visitors should be aware that, subject to certain statutory exceptions, most documents and records maintained by the Office of the Ohio Public Defender, including but not limited to electronic data, may be public records under Ohio law. Therefore, information submitted through this Web site may be subject to disclosure pursuant to a public records request. This is true regardless of whether information is provided to the State by personal visit, mail, or Web site, as it becomes public record and is open to public inspection unless protected by State or Federal law. Public records are subject to the rules and requirements located in Ohio Revised Code Annotated Title I, Chapter 149. A public record is a record held by a public office. A record is any item that is:

1. Stored on a fixed medium (such as paper, computer, film, etc.),

2. Created, received, or sent under the jurisdiction of a public office,

3. Documents the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office.

Based on the definition of public records, be aware that any information collected at this site could be made available to the public. Requests for public records will be examined for compliance with public records laws.

• Public Records Policy

POLICY ON PROTECTING PRIVACY

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender takes seriously the protection of personally identifiable information. This policy provides the requirements for protecting the privacy of people who have personally identifiable information in our databases, electronic and paper files and other records. This policy covers all Ohio Public Defender employees. It also covers contractors who gain access to the Ohio Public Defender’s physical facilities or data or computer systems. This policy lays out basic handling expectations first for all types of personally identifiable information, and second, it provides important additional handling requirements for sensitive personally identifiable information.

• Policy on Protecting Privacy

PLUG-INS

The Ohio Public Defender's Web site does use files that will require a third party plug-in. Those files are limited to the following:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader for Portable Document Format (PDF) content to download the most recent version, click here

WEB COOKIES

Any Web page or application at this site that uses cookies will identify itself as such. Cookies are short and simple text files that are stored on a user’s computer hard drive by Web sites. They are used to keep track of and store information so the user does not have to supply the information multiple times. Cookies may also be used when necessary to complete a transaction, to process data submitted to us online, or to facilitate ongoing Internet interaction. Visitors who submit information via this Web site should be aware that by data linking your computer to this Web site, a cookie might be created. The information that is collected through cookies at this site is handled in the same manner as other information collected here. Thus, information collected on our Web site, including cookies, may also be subject to disclosure pursuant to a public records request. You can configure your Web browser to refuse cookies or to notify you when a Web site attempts to send a cookie. You can also check your hard drive for cookie files and delete them from your computer.

"The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedom."

Supreme Court Justice William Douglas