Candace S. Africa v. Department of Correction - Legal Division (SPR 20161150)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor of Records December 20, 2016 SPR16/1150 Vicki Pineda Department of Correction- Souza-Baranowski Correction Center PO Box 8000 Shirley, MA 01464 Dear Ms. Pineda: I have received the petition of Candace Africa appealing the response of the Department of Correction-Souza-Baranowski Correction Center (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Ms. Africa requested "incident reports and computerized videos; clarification with video request (D-Report #347832) & confirmation per discourse with Mr. Fountaine." Initially you had provided responses dated July 1 and November 7 along with some responsive records. Objecting to the Department not having provided all responsive records, Ms. Africa petitioned this office. Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was notified by you that a revised response will be provided. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department's failure to provide a more substantial response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Africa may appeal the substantive nature of the Department'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 staff will visit a records custodian in person to conduct training workshops on the Public Records Law upon r quest. Please contact my office directly at the telephone number provided in this determi atio for further information. cc: Candace Africa One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us