Ziyad Hopkins, Esq. v. Boston, City of - Police Department (SPR 20160019)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords January 14, 2016 SPR16/019 Ms. Katherine S. Hoffman, Esq. Boston Police Department Office ofthe Legal Advisor One Schroeder Plaza Boston, MA 02120 Dear Attorney Hoffman: I have received the petition of Ziyad Hopkins, Esq. appealing the nonresponse of the Boston Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 1O (b ); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Attorney Hopkins requested copies of records related to an information management system software program. Attorney Hopkins received an acknowledgment of the request along with assurances that a more substantive response would be provided. Having not received this substantive response, Attorney Hopkins appealed to this office. 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 of the 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 Department is advised that all records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was notified that a response was provided, dated January 14, 2015. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Attorney Hopkins may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). To assist the Department in responding to requests for public records I refer you to a copy of our publication, A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This document is available on the Internet, free of charge, at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prepdf/guide.pdf. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre

Ms. Katherine S. Hoffman, Esq. SPR16/019 Page2 January 14, 2016 Attorneys on my staff are available during regular business hours to answer general questions regarding the Public Records Law. In addition, members of my staff will visit a records custodian in person to conduct training workshops on the Public Records Law upon request. Please contact my office directly at the telephone number provided in this determination for fu h r information. cc: Ziyad Hopkins, Esq.