Maya Shaffer v. Office of the District Attorney - Berkshire District (SPR 20160296)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords May 13,2016 SPR16/296 Mr. Joseph A. Pieropan, Esq. Assistant District Attorney Office of the District Attorney Berkshire District 7 North Street P.O. Box 1969 Pittsfield, MA 01202 Dear Attorney Pieropan: I have received the petition ofMaya Shaffer appealing the nonresponse of Office ofthe District Attorney- Berkshire District (DAO) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Ms. Shaffer requested a number of records pertaining to "the Pittsfield police (and) booking videos." Having received no response, Ms. Shaffer petitioned 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 (1 0) days of the request. G. L. c. 66, § lO(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. 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 April27, 2016. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the DAO's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Shaffer may appeal the substantive nature of the DAO's response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). To assist in requesting and responding to requests for public records please refer to 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. Attorneys on my staff are available during regular business hours to answer general questions regarding the Public Records Law. In addition, members of my staffwill visit a OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre

Mr. Joseph A. Pieropan, Esq. SPR16/296 Page 2 May 13,2016 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 further information. Supervisor of Records cc: Ms. Maya Shaffer