Melanie Rich v. Department of Correction - Legal Division (SPR 20200720)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records May 15, 2020 SPR20/0720 Kate Silvia Director of Communications Massachusetts Department of Correction 50 Maple Street Milford, MA 01757 Dear Kate Silvia: I have received the petition of Melanie Rich appealing the nonresponse of the Department of Correction (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, on March 27, 2020, Ms. Rich requested, “[a]ll public record requests submitted to the North Central Correction Institution in Gardner, MA 02-01- 2018 through 12-01-2018.” 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, § l0A(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, § 10(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). To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. Subsequent to the intervention by a staff member of the Public Records Division, I learned that the Department provided Ms. Rich a response dated May 14, 2020. 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

SPR20/0720 Katie Silvia Page 2 May 15, 2020 Conclusion In light of the Department’s May 14th response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Rich may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Melanie Rich