Corrigan Wright v. Massachusetts State Police (SPR 20200067)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor ofR ecords January 28, 2020 SPR20/0067 Keith A. Paquette, Esq. Legal Counsel Massachusetts State Police 4 70 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702 Dear Attorney Paquette: I have received the petition of Corrigan Wright appealing the response of the Department of State Police (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 1O A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically on January 8, 2020, Ms. Wright requested a repo1t she gave in 2013 relating to criminal activity in Berkshire County. Tlie Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all govermnental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § IOA(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) . . It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 1O (b )(iv); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see also Dist. Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). The Department's January JOt11 Response The Department provided a response to Ms. Wright on January 10, 2020 denying the records in their entirety, citing Exemption (f) of the Public Records Law. Unsatisfied with the Department's response, Ms. Wright appealed and SPR20/0067 was opened as a result. One Ashbm1on Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state;ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Keith A. Paquette, Esq. SPR20/0067 Page 2 January 28, 2020 In camera inspection In order to facilitate a determination as to the applicability of the Department's claims under Exemption (f) to withhold the records in their entirety, the Department must provide this office with un-redacted copies of the responsive records for in camera inspection. After I complete my review of the documents, I will return the records to your custody and issue an opinion on the public or exempt nature of the record, See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4). The authority to require the submission of records for an in camera inspection emanates from the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4); see also G.L. c. 66, § 1. This office interprets the in camera inspection process to be analogous to that utilized by the judicial system. See Rock v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 384 Mass. 198,206 (1981) (administrative agency entitled deference in the interpretation of its own regulations). Records are not voluntarily submitted, but rather are submitted pursuant to an order by this office that an in camera inspection is necessary to make a proper finding. Records are submitted for the limited purpose ofreview. This office is not the custodian of records examined in camera, therefore, any request made to this office for records being reviewed in camera will be denied. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4)(c). This office has a long history of cooperation with governmental agencies with respect to in camera inspection. Custodians submit copies of the relevant records to this office upon a promise of confidentiality. This office does not release records reviewed in camera to anyone under any circumstances. Upon a determination of the .public record status, records reviewed in camera are promptly returned to the custodian. To operate in any other fashion would seriously impede our ability to function and would certainly affect our credibility within the legal community. Please be aware, any cover letter submitted to accompany the relevant records may be subject to disclosure. Order Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide this office with an un-redacted copies of the responsive records for in camera inspection without delay. Sincerely, ~u~ Supervisor of Records cc: Corrigan Wright