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Sam Thomas v. Department of Correction (SPR 20222010)
Massachusetts Public Records Appeal · Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond · Filed 09-01-2022
ClosedAppealPetitioner Won
SPR 20222010 is a Massachusetts Public Records Law appeal filed by Sam Thomas concerning records held by Department of Correction, opened 09-01-2022. Type: Appeal. Status: Closed. Supervisor of Public Records determination: Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond.
Case Details
- Case Number
- 20222010
- Case Type
- Appeal
- Case Subtype
- Initial
- Status
- Closed
- Requester
- Sam Thomas
- Custodian
- Department of Correction
- Date Opened
- 09-01-2022
- Date Closed
- 09-16-2022
- Date Request Submitted
- 07-29-2022
- Response Provided Date
- 08-12-2022
- Processing Fees Charged
- 0.00
- Petitions Regarding Fees
- No
- Time to Comply
- 10 Days
PDF Document
Extracted Text (searchable & copyable)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records September 16, 2022 SPR22/2010 Kate M. Silvia Director of Communications Department of Correction 50 Maple Street, Suite 3 Milford, MA 01757 Dear Ms. Silvia: I have received the petition of Attorney Sam Thomas, of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, on behalf of Scott Allen of the Boston Globe, appealing the response 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). On July 29, 2022, Mr. Allen requested “… all written decisions from January 1, 2019 through February 1, 2022 which resulted from disciplinary proceedings that involved confirmatory testing of suspected synthetic cannabinoid samples by the UMass Drugs of Abuse Lab [and] [a]ll evidence relied upon in the hearing officer’s findings and recommended sanctions.” Previous appeal This request was the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR22/0808 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (April 19, 2022). The Department responded on August 12, 2022. Unsatisfied with the response, Attorney Thomas petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/2010, was opened as a result. Based upon a conversation between a Public Records Division senior attorney and a Department representative, it is my understanding that the Department intends on providing a further response to Attorney Thomas. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Attorney Thomas with said response in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within 10 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Attorney Thomas may appeal the substantive nature of Department’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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 Kate M. Silvia SPR22/2010 Page 2 September 16, 2022 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Sam Thomas, Esq.