Robert W. Anderson, Jr. v. Department of Correction - MCI Shirley (SPR 20170330)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 17, 2017 SPR17/330 Elizabeth I. Kingman Records Manager MCI-Shirley P.O. Box 1218 Shirley, MA 01464 Dear RAO: I have received the petition of Robert W. Anderson, Jr. appealing the nonresponse of the Department of Correction - MCI Shirley (Department) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § lOA; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Mr. Anderson requested some 40 categories ofrecords from the Department. You acknowledged receipt of Mr. Anderson's request in a letter dated February 10, 2017. Upon receiving no further correspondence from the Department, Mr. Anderson petitioned this office and this appeal (SPR 17/330) was opened as a result. The Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § lOA(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.03(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). 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. Public Records Division attorneys are available during regular business hours to answer general questions regarding the Public Records Law. In addition, Public Records Division staff will visit a records custodian in person to conduct training workshops on the Public Records Law upon request. Please contact the Public Records Division directly at the telephone number provided in this determination for further information. 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

Elizabeth I. Kingman SPRl 7/330 Page 2 March 17, 2017 Determination Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was notified that a further response was provided to Mr. Anderson on March 16, 2017. In this response you notify Mr. Anderson that "due to the magnitude and complexity of your request" it has been forwarded to the Department's Legal Office for fulfillment. You further explain that "a specific response" to the request will be provided once the Legal Office has completed their review. I will therefore consider this administrative appeal closed with the proviso that this response is provided without delay. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Robert W. Anderson, Jr.