Public Information Act Requests

Maryland’s Public Information Act (“PIA”), codified at Md. General Provisions Code Ann. §4-101 et seq., grants the public the right of access to records that are in the possession of State and local governmental agencies without unnecessary cost and delay. Additionally, the PIA provides for required denials and discretionary exceptions to a request for information.

 The PIA requires each governmental unit that maintains public records to identify a representative who a member of the public should contact to request a public record. In order to inspect or obtain copies of a public record, you must submit a written request to the custodian.


Public Records

A public record is an original or copy of any documentary material in any form created or received by the department in connection with the transaction of public business. This includes:

  • Books
  • Computerized records
  • Drawings
  • Films
  • Maps
  • Microfilms
  • Photocopies
  • Photographs
  • Records
  • Tapes
  • Written materials

Submitting a MPIA Request 

The following are the Custodian of Records for the departments and agencies of Prince George’s County Government.  If you are not
certain as to where to send your request, please direct your request to Ms. Ryann T. Sargent, Office of Law.  For other public agencies, please visit their respective website for more information contained at the end of this list.

Central Services

  1. Physical Address
    1400 McCormick Drive
    Suite 336
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Leslie Jackson-Jenkins

    Associate Director / Custodian of public records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-6450

Community Relations

  1. Physical Address
    9200 Basil Court
    Suite 102
    Largo, MD 20774

Corrections

  1. Physical Address
    13400 Dille Drive
    Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

County Executive

  1. Physical Address
    1301 McCormick Drive
    Suite 4000
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. John Erzen, II

    Deputy Chief of Staff / Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-952-5980
    More Information

County Executive (MEDIA)

  1. Physical Address
    1301 McCormick Drive
    Suite 4000
    Largo, MD 20774

Division of Environmental (Disease Control)

  1. Physical Address
    1701 McCormick Drive
    Suite 200
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Vanessa Ford

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-7605

Environment - (*Tow vehicles) & (Animal Control)

  1. Physical Address
    1801 McCormick Drive
    Suite 500
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Karen Gooden

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-5970

Ethics and Accountability

  1. Physical Address
    9201 Basil Court
    Suite 155
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Hon. Todd M. Turner, Esq.

    Executive Director
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-3445

Family Services

  1. Physical Address
    6420 Allentown Road
    Camp Springs, MD 20748

  1. Dowd Jermoni

    Public Information Officer / Custodian of Records
    email
    Phone: 301-265-8490

Finance

  1. Physical Address
    1301 McCormick Drive
    Suite 1100
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Wanda R. Coley-Smith

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-952-5371

Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

  1. Physical Address
    9201 Basil Court, Suite 452
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Paul W. Brown III

    IT Manager II ASC / Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-7183

Health

  1. Physical Address
    1701 McCormick Drive
    Suite 200
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Anea Jordan

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-7844

Homeland Security/PSC Audio

  1. Physical Address
    7915 Anchor Street
    Landover, MD 20785

  1. Charlynn Flaherty

    Deputy Director / Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-352-1485

Housing & Community Development

  1. Physical Address
    9200 Basil Court
    Suite 500
    Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

  1. Aspasia Xypolia

    Custodian of Records
    DHCD_PublicInformationRequest@co.pg.md.us

Human Rights

  1. Physical Address
    14741 Governor Oden Bowie Dr.
    Suite L105
    Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

  1. Renée Battle-Brooks

    Executive Director / Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-6170

  1. Sandra Powell

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-6170

Human Resources Management

  1. Physical Address
    1400 McCormick Drive
    Suite 159
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Jaclyn Harris

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-6366

  1. Alex McCray

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-6366

Information Technology

  1. Physical Address
    9201 Basil Court
    Suite 250
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. William (Todd) Addis

    Security Manager / Custodian of Records
    wtaddis@co.pg.md.us
    Phone: 301-883-3351

Office of Law

  1. Physical Address
    1301 McCormick Drive
    Suite 4100
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Robin Barnes-Shell

    Associate County Attorney / Custodian Of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-952-5225

Management & Budget

  1. Physical Address
    Wayne K. Curry Administration Building
    1301 McCormick Dr, Room 4200
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Belinda Moore

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-952-5140

Permitting, Inspections & Enforcement (DPIE)

  1. Physical Address
    9400 Peppercorn Place
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Avis Thomas-Lester

    Public Information Officer / Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-636-2053; 240-508-9723, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, M-F

Police

  1. Physical Address
    8801 Police Plaza
    Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

  1. Alberta Holden

    Custodian of Records (4923 43rd Ave, Hyattsville, MD, 20781)
    Email
    Phone: 301-985-3638

Public Works & Transportation

  1. Physical Address
    9400 Peppercorn Place
    Suite 300
    Largo, MD 20774

  1. Courtney Glass

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-883-5600

Sheriff

  1. Physical Address
    5303 Chrysler Way
    Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

  1. Lt. Adam Taifouri

    Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-780-2766

Social Services

  1. Physical Address
    805 Brightseat Road
    Landover, MD 20785

  1. Renee Ensor-Pope

    Assistant Director / Custodian of Records
    Email
    Phone: 301-909-6316

Legislative Branch & County Council

Physical Address
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Dr.    Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Karen T. Zavakos

Custodian of Records
Email
Phone: 301-952-3435

Other Public Agencies

Public Record Access

The MPIA provides for access to most agency records. Certain records are privileged by law and must be withheld. Examples include, but are not limited to, records containing:

  • Attorney/client advice and attorney work product
  • Confidential commercial
  • Financial information
  • Medical records
  • Personnel records
  • Trade secrets

There are certain records that may fall within one of the exemptions in state law that allows the agency to withhold documents and redact information from documents.

Other records may be withheld. Examples include, but are not limited to, investigatory records and inter- and intra-agency memoranda and letters. If you are denied access to any records, you will be notified as to the specific statutory provisions for each exemption and for challenging the denial procedures.

Access to public records does not include access to information or documents that does not exist. The agency is not required to create a document in order to respond to a request. Additionally, pursuant to retention guidelines and schedules, if the document no longer exists/has been destroyed, the requestor will be notified.

Associated Fees

The custodian may charge reasonable fees for the search and preparation of records for inspection and copying. Search fees are the costs to an agency for locating requested records. Usually, this involves the costs of an employee’s time spent in locating the requested records. preparation fees are the costs to an agency to prepare a record for inspection or copying, including the time needed to assess whether any provision of law permits or requires material to be withheld. The first two hours of search time is free, however, any additional time is subject to fees.

Search includes all time spent looking, both manually and electronically, for material that is responsive to a request. Search also includes a line-by-line or page-by-page identification (if necessary) of material in the record to determine if it or portions thereof are responsive to the request. Time spent reviewing documents in order to determine whether to apply a statutory exemption is not search time but review time.

Duplication refers to the process of making a copy of a document in response to a MPIA request. Such copies can take the form of paper copy, audiovisual, or machine-readable documentation (e.g., magnetic tape or disc) among others. Agencies usually provide copies in the same format as kept within the department unless otherwise specified by the requester or by the agency.

Review refers to the process of examining documents located in response to a MPIA request to determine whether one or more of the statutory exemptions permit withholding. It also includes the processing of documents for disclosure, such as excising them for release. Review does not include time spent resolving general legal or policy issues regarding the application of exemptions.