GBI Open Records Unit
| Contact | Phone |
|---|---|
| Manager, Office of Privacy and Compliance, Cheryl Payton |
|
Office of Privacy and Compliance
The Office of Privacy and Compliance is responsible for managing the Open Records Unit, Accreditation, as well as handling privacy issues and ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
OPEN RECORDS UNIT
In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through 50-18-76, the Open Records Act, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) established an Open Records Unit in 1999. The Open Records Unit, which includes archives management, is within the Office of Privacy and Compliance. The purpose of the Open Records Act is to encourage public access to information and to foster confidence in government through openness to the public.
The Open Records Unit continues to provide training sessions to various criminal justice agencies throughout the state regarding the Georgia Open Records Act.
GBI Open Records Unit
ACCREDITATION UNIT
The Office of Privacy and Compliance also oversees the Accreditation Unit responsible for maintaining national law enforcement accreditation and state law enforcement certification. On November 21, 1998, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was internationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA®). GBI received reaccreditation in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013. GBI is also certified by the State of Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. GBI is scheduled for its next CALEA ® on-site inspection in 2016 and its Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police inspection in 2017.
CALEA® is the nonprofit organization that accredits law enforcement agencies internationally. Standards are developed to help law enforcement agencies achieve the following: increase agency capabilities to prevent and control crime; enhance agency effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services; improve cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and other components of the criminal justice system; and increase citizen and staff confidence in the goals, objectives, policies and practices of the agency. Participation in the accreditation program is voluntary.
In 2013, the GBI received the prestigious CALEA ® Accreditation with Excellence Award. The award is designed to acknowledge CALEA Accredited public safety agencies that have demonstrated success in the accreditation process. The program also serves to provide other agencies seeking accreditation with examples of “best practices” on how to address compliance, policy development, file maintenance, and other issues relating to the accreditation process. The CALEA ® Accreditation with Excellence Award attaches to the agency’s accreditation award for a period of three years.
PRIVACY OFFICER
The Director of the Office of Privacy and Compliance serves as the GBI Privacy Officer and is responsible for privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties issues, policy development, policy compliance, the coordination of privacy training related to all GBI Intelligence operations, and the security of information systems.
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OTHER DUTIES
The Office of Privacy and Compliance also reviews proposed legislation and provides legal expertise in the areas of policy, legal issues, and personnel law.