Glassroth, Drew v. Suffolk County Sheriff's Department (SPR 20150204)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords April27, 2015 SPR15/204 Mr. Eugene Sumpter, Jr. Superintendent Nashua Street Jail 200 Nashua Street Boston, MA 02114 Dear Superintendent Sumpter: I have received the petition of Drew Glassroth Esq., appealing the response of Suffolk County Sherriff Department (Department) to his/her request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, on March 13111 , 2015 Attorney Glassroth requested copies of records regarding an identified individual. As of the date of date he submitted his petition to my office Attorney Glassroth had not received a response to his request for records from the Department. The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4). "Public records" is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any town of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten (10) days ofthe request. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b); 950 C.M.R. 32.05. The response may be an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. The Departments advised that all records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Accordingly, the Department is hereby ordered, within ten (10) day of this order, to provide Attorney Glassroth with the requested records. If the Department maintains that any portion of the responsive records are exempt from disclosure it must, within ten (1 0) days provide to Attorney Glassroth a written explanation, with specificity, how a particular exemption plies to each record. cc: Mr. Drew Glassroth Esq. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre