ATTORNEY GENERAL
Under provisions set out in the Texas Constitution, the Texas Government Code, 
Title 4,  402.042 and numerous statutes, the attorney general is authorized to 
write advisory opinions for state and local officials. These advisory opinions 
are requested by agencies or officials when they are confronted with unique or 
unusually difficult legal questions. The attorney general also determines, under 
authority of the Texas Open Records Act, whether information requested for 
release from governmental agencies may be held from public disclosure. Requests 
for opinions, opinions, and open record decisions are summarized for publication 
in the Texas Register. The Attorney General responds to many requests for 
opinions and open records decisions with letter opinions. A letter opinion has 
the same force and effect as a formal Attorney General Opinion, and represents 
the opinion of the Attorney General unless and until it is modified or overruled 
by a subsequent letter opinion, a formal Attorney General Opinion, or a decision 
of a court of record. To request copies of opinions, phone (512) 462-0011. To 
inquire about pending requests for opinions, phone (512) 463-2110.

Open Records Decision
ORD-646 (ORQ-9)

 Requested from the Honorable Judith Zaffirini, State Senator P.O. Box 627,
 Laredo, Texas 78042-0627 and the Honorable Delma Rios, Kleberg County
 Attorney, P.O. Box 1411, Kingsville, Texas 78363, concerning whether records
 maintained by a Community Supervision and Corrections Department are subject
 to the provisions of Chapter 552 of the Government Code and related questions.

Summary of Decision. A community supervision
 and corrections department is a governmental body and is not part of the 
judiciary
 for purposes of the Open Records Act. Administrative records such as personnel
 files and other records reflecting the day-to-day management of a community
 supervision and corrections department are subject to the Open Records Act.
 On the other hand, specific records regarding individuals on probation and
 subject to the direct supervision of a court that are held by a community
 supervision and corrections department are not subject to the Open Records
 Act because such records are held on behalf of the judiciary.


TRD-961251

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