SUMMARY — WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESPONSE (PIA ID# 40621)

Date: October 27, 2025
From: Katie Lentz, Open Records Coordinator, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
To: Texas Attorney General, Open Records Division
Subject: Request for Ruling on Disclosure — PIA ID# 40621
Complainant/Requestor: LeRoy Nellis II

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1. County Sought Attorney General Authorization to Withhold Records
   Rather than releasing the materials directly to you, the Sheriff’s Office requested a ruling from
   the Attorney General to determine whether they could lawfully withhold responsive information.
   This is a common “Section 552.301” referral used when agencies claim exemptions to avoid disclosure.

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2. Claimed Exemptions (Reasons for Withholding)
   The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office cited four main legal exemptions under the Texas Public Information Act:

Code Section	Claimed Basis	Effect
§552.101	Confidential by law (Common-Law Privacy)	Used to withhold medical, psychiatric, or “intimate” details.
§552.103	Litigation Exception	Claimed the records relate to “anticipated or pending litigation.”
§552.108	Law-Enforcement Exception	Claimed release would “interfere with investigation or prosecution.”
§552.130	Motor Vehicle / ID Information	Used broadly to redact names, license numbers, and identifying details.

Issue: These exemptions were applied blanket-style — the county did not show specific harm or segregate releasable portions as required by law.

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3. Categories of Records Affected
   The response indicates the Sheriff’s Office is attempting to withhold or heavily redact:

• Medical and psychiatric files (treatment logs, medication charts, MHMR forms)
• Internal communications and surveillance records related to your detention
• Incident reports, grievances, and disciplinary records
• Any external correspondence with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards or U.S. Marshals Service

They did not provide any responsive records to you pending the Attorney General’s ruling.

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4. Procedural Posture
   Under Tex. Gov’t Code §552.301, the agency’s letter to the Attorney General serves as their
   formal petition for permission to withhold. Once the Attorney General receives your appeal and
   counter-argument, they will issue a ruling within 45 business days determining whether the county
   must release or can continue to withhold those materials.

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5. Summary of Williamson County’s Intent
   The memorandum’s tone indicates the county is attempting to withhold nearly all substantive
   records you requested—especially medical and use-of-force documentation—by categorizing them
   as confidential, investigatory, or litigation-related. No partial release or segregation of
   non-exempt data was offered, which is contrary to §552.301(e-1) requirements.

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6. Next Steps (Your Position)
   Your appeal (already drafted) challenges this overreach by arguing that:

• You consent to release of your own medical records (removing privacy barriers)
• The county has no active litigation justifying §552.103
• These are administrative, not investigative, records—so §552.108 doesn’t apply
• Segregable public information must be released even if some portions are exempt