Requesting Public Records from Western Tidewater Jail: A Step‑by‑Step FOIA Guide

To request public records from the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority, contact Marissa Dickens. She can also answer questions about the request process.

• ✓ FOIA contact: Marissa Dickens
• ✓ Mail: 2402 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23434
• ✓ Phone: 757-942-0527
• ✓ Fax: 757-539-6409
• ✓ Email: dickensm@wtrj.org

After the Authority receives your FOIA request, it must respond within five working days.

The clock doesn't start the moment you hit send. Under the Authority's FOIA timeline,

Fees may apply, especially for broad requests that require significant staff time to process. If the estimated cost exceeds $200, the Authority may require a deposit before moving forward.

Practical Steps

• ✓ Address your FOIA request to Marissa Dickens.
• ✓ Send it to: 2402 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23434, or email it to dickensm@wtrj.org.
• ✓ Include your own contact information so staff can reach you if they need clarification.
• ✓ Describe the records you want as specifically as you can.
• ✓ Ask for an advance cost estimate - especially if you think the request could exceed $200 (a deposit may be required if the estimate is over $200).
• ✓ Tell them how you want to receive the records (for example, by email or by mail).

1. Mark the receipt date - the Authority’s five-working-day response window is based on when your request is received.
2. Start counting from “Day One” - “Day One” is the day after the request is received.
3. Count working days only - weekends and holidays don’t count toward the five-day period.
4. Follow up after five working days - if you haven’t received a response by then, contact the FOIA point of contact and ask for a status update.