Open Government

The policy of the state of North Carolina is to allow public access to the business of government. We help by acting as a liaison between public officials and the public.

Open government laws are known as “sunshine laws” because they help shed light on the government’s work.

Click Here to submit a Public Records Request

Public Integrity

Government employees and elected officials have a responsibility to obey and respect the law, act ethically and conduct their work in an open manner. Attorney General Jackson and the Department of Justice help citizens know their rights and responsibilities under the law. We actively prosecute officials who violate the public’s trust.

North Carolina’s Public Records and Open Meetings laws ensure that the public can know what government officials and entities do. North Carolinians are entitled to see any public record. Public bodies must conduct business in public.

The Attorney General’s Office issues opinions reminding government entities of their obligations under these laws and how to comply. You can contact our Open Government Unit at opengov@ncdoj.gov to get information on how to obtain public records and conduct open meetings.

Department lawyers prosecute and oversee investigations of public corruption cases. Our department has handled hundreds of criminal cases against elected and appointed officials.

Our lawyers bring cases against judicial employees and law enforcement personnel through the state Judicial Standards Commission and Law Enforcement Training & Standards Commission. The Attorney General is also available, upon request, to take over any criminal case from local District Attorneys if the DA has a conflict.

Public Records & Open Meetings

Public Records Laws specify:

What kinds of records the public may access
Which government agencies must disclose records
How public records laws may be enforced if agencies do not allow their records to be examined

Open Meetings Laws specify:

Which State and local public bodies must hold open meetings
What type of notice public bodies must give before holding meetings
Under what circumstances a public body may enter into a closed session
How citizens may enforce the open meetings law if a public body attempts to exclude them from a meeting or fails to give proper notice