Jean Trounstine v. Massachusetts Parole Board (SPR 20250488)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records February 24, 2025 SPR25/0488 Stacy Book Compliance Officer/Records Access Officer Massachusetts Parole Board 12 Mercer Road Natick, MA 01760 Dear Ms. Book: On February 19, 2025, this office received your petition on behalf of the Massachusetts Parole Board (Board) seeking an extension of time to produce records. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.06(4). As required by law, it is my understanding that the Board furnished a copy of the petition to the requestor, Jean Trounstine. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv)(2). On January 31, 2025, Ms. Trounstine requested the following records: [1] The total number of people on parole who have filed for parole termination in the past ten years, i.e. from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2024[;] [2] The total number of people on parole who have filed for parole termination since [an identified individual] has been chair, i.e. 11/15/2022 through January 31, 2025[;] [3] The total number of life sentenced prisoners on parole who have filed for a parole termination in the past ten years, i.e. from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2024[;] [4] The total number of life sentenced prisoners on parole who have filed for a parole termination since [an identified individual] has been chair, i.e. from 11/15/2022 through January 31, 2025[;] [5] The total number of life sentenced prisoners on parole who have earned parole termination grants in the past ten years, i.e. from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2024[;] [6] The total number of life sentenced prisoners on parole who have earned 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

Stacy Book SPR25/0488 Page 2 February 24, 2025 parole termination grants since [an identified individual] has been chair, i.e. 11/15/2022 through January 31, 2025[;] [7] The names of all people who in the past ten years i.e. from January 2014 through December 2024 have won parole terminations and the date each termination was granted[;] [8] The number of parole termination hearings that were granted in the past ten years, i.e. from January 2014 through December 2024. Petition for an Extension of Time Under the Public Records Law, upon a showing of good cause, the Supervisor of Records (Supervisor) may grant a single extension to an agency not to exceed 20 business days and a single extension to a municipality not to exceed 30 business days. In determining whether there has been a showing of good cause, the Supervisor shall consider, but shall not be limited to considering: (i) the need to search for, collect, segregate or examine records; (ii) the scope of redaction required to prevent unlawful disclosure; (iii) the capacity or the normal business hours of operation of the agency or municipality to produce the request without the extension; (iv) efforts undertaken by the agency or municipality in fulfilling the current request and previous requests; (v) whether the request, either individually or as part of a series of requests from the same requestor, is frivolous or intended to harass or intimidate the agency or municipality; and (vi) the public interest served by expeditious disclosure. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c). If the Supervisor determines that the request is part of a series of contemporaneous requests that are frivolous or designed to intimidate or harass, and the requests are not intended for the broad dissemination of information to the public about actual or alleged government activity, the Supervisor may grant a longer extension or relieve the agency or municipality of its obligation to provide copies of the records sought. Id. The filing of a petition does not affect the requirement that a Records Access Officer (RAO) must provide an initial response to a requestor within ten business days after receipt of a request for public records. 950 C.M.R. 36.06(4)(b). Current Petition In its petition, the Board states that “an additional 10 days will be needed to fulfill this request due to the magnitude of this request and the complexity of the data.”

Stacy Book SPR25/0488 Page 3 February 24, 2025 In light of the need to collect, segregate and examine the records, the Board has established good cause to permit an extension of time. G. L. c. 66, § 10(c)(i)-(ii). The Board is granted an extension of 10 business days. Conclusion As described above, I find that the Board has established good cause for a time extension of 10 business days. Please note, Ms. Trounstine has the right to seek judicial review of this decision by commencing a civil action in the appropriate superior court. See G. L. c. 66, §§ 10(c), 10(d)(iv)(4), 10A(c). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Jean Trounstine