On December 5, 2025, the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office released an opinion regarding the Ward County Sheriff’s Department. The opinion states that the department did not comply with state law when it denied a request for records without redacting them first.
According to the issued opinion, “The Ward County Sheriff’s Department violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 when it denied a request for records without first redacting them.” This was addressed directly to the Ward County Sheriff’s Department.
Under North Dakota law, public agencies are required to provide access to records and redact any confidential information rather than deny access entirely. The Attorney General’s opinion clarifies this obligation for the Ward County Sheriff’s Department.
The full text of the opinion can be viewed online.
