James G. Hasson v. Hampden County Sheriff's Department (SPR 20210420)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 4, 2021 SPR21/420 Theresa Finnegan, Esq. Hampden County Sheriff’s Department 627 Randall Road Ludlow, MA 01056 Dear Attorney Finnegan: I have received the petition of Attorney James Hasson appealing the nonresponse of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Specifically, Attorney Hasson requested all interagency correspondence regarding COVID safety protocols, staffing levels, a party which COs attended, all disciplinary actions against the CO’s, complaints filed by inmates against the COs for the months of September, October, November and December 2020. Having received no response, Attorney Hasson petitioned this office. 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, § 10A(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. If there are any fees associated with a response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(viii); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2). Once fees are paid, a records custodian must provide the responsive records. 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

Theresa Finnegan, Esq. SPR21/420 Page 2 March 4, 2021 Order Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, no response has been provided. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Attorney Hasson with a response to the request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. 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: James Hasson, Esq.