Public Records can only be Destroyed in Accordance with Appropriate Records Retention and Destruction Policies
The preservation and destruction of public records is governed by Chapter 40.14 RCW. Local Governments are responsible for adopting appropriate records retention policies and procedures. The local records committee establishes retention schedules for different types of local governments that specify retention periods applicable to different categorizes of public records. These schedules are available on the Washington State Archives website. Local governments should also consider other applicable retention schedules. For example, public hospital districts should consider the Medicare conditions of participation and the Joint Commission requirements, among others. Failure to adopt and implement appropriate records retention and destruction policies and procedures may result in financial penalties and even in possible criminal sanctions because the destruction or mutilation of a public record is a felony under certain circumstances. See Chapter 40.16 RCW. Individual officers and employees should make sure that they adhere to the retention schedule with respect to documents that they maintain, such as any email that constitutes a public record (whether or not the email is on a government, personal or business computer).
