Because the Program provides witness protection services to persons who by reason of actively aiding the State may be in danger of death or bodily harm, the Attorney General hereby finds that open access to records relating to the Program will defeat its legal purpose. The identification of Program applicants or participants and by providing past or current locations for such persons could place applicants and participants in danger of death or bodily harm. Further, the release of Program records will not assist the people or public in efficiently and intelligently exercising their inherent political power. Accordingly, all records pertaining to the Program including, but not limited to all applications for support under the Program, together with all records of any and every kind related thereto, are hereby found and declared to be confidential and privileged from disclosure as trial preparation materials of the State of Oklahoma. See 12 O.S. § 3226(B). Further, these records are exempt from disclosure under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. See 51 O.S. § 24A.5(1)(a); see also, 51 O.S. § 24A.12; 22 O.S. § 2510; and 74 O.S. § 19a. Program records shall be disclosed only as provided in these rules. All Program records shall be subject to the regular audit of the State Auditor and Inspector and disclosed to the State Auditor and Inspector for such purposes as required for the performance of such audits under Title 74, Section 212 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Auditors and audits shall keep confidential the actual or alias identities and locations of all persons applying for or receiving support under the Program.

Added at 31 Ok Reg 839, eff 9-12-14

Amended at 43 Ok Reg, Number 18, effective 6-11-26