Brief Description of this Request
This request was made by CCR in regards to our advocacy work against prison expansion in Alabama.
Joy Nobles[2]
Public Records Coordinator
Alabama Department of Corrections
301 South Ripley Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Submitted via U.S. Mail Priority Express,
with courtesy copy via email to: [email protected][3]
Re: Public Record Request
Dear Ms. Nobles,
I request an electronic copy of the architectural and engineering study conducted in November 2016 by the firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood to “identify cost of deferred maintenance and code compliance for ADOC’s largest 17 prisons” (“GMC Study”). [1]
This study is referenced in a 2017 ADOC report entitled “The Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative,” which is available on ADOC’s website. [2] [4] According to that report, the GMC Study was available at the Legislative Fiscal Office (now the Legislative Services Agency (LSA)) at the time of the report’s publication.[5] I contacted LSA Fiscal Division Deputy Director Kirk Fulford, who informed me that the study “encompassed several large binders” and is now in the possession of ADOC.
I anticipate that ADOC will treat this as a standard request under Alabama Code Sections 36-12-43(b)(4) and 36-12-44(a), since this information is, according to another state agency and ADOC itself, already recognized as a public record and contained in separate, identifiable binders within ADOC’s possession. As such, I expect ADOC to acknowledge receipt of this request within 10 days, and to provide a substantive response within 15 business days of acknowledging receipt. See Ala. Code § 36-12-44(a). If, on the other hand, ADOC determines that this request is “time-sensitive,” see id. § 36-12-43(b)(6), I expect ADOC to acknowledge receipt within 10 business days, notify me of that determination and provide an estimate of fees within 15 business days, and to provide a substantive response within 45 business days of acknowledging receipt. Id. §§ 36-12-44(b).
Enclosed please find a completed copy of ADOC’s Public Records Request Form and a money order for the $20.00 minimum processing fee. [6] Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Jessica Myers Vosburgh[7]
Center for Constitutional Rights
[redacted]
[1] https://doc.alabama.gov/docs/Alabama%20Prison%20Transformation%20Initiative%20Information%20Booklet.pdf
[2] See Ibid.
H6.Annotations
[1] https://doc.alabama.gov/docs/Alabama%20Prison%20Transformation%20Initiative%20Information%20Booklet.pdf
[2] See id.
Whenever possible, direct your request to the specific person who is responsible for handling open records request for the agency from which you are requesting records. If you are not able to identify this person, you can address your request to the agency/“Public Information Officer”/“To Whom it May Concern.” See Alabama Explainer Part 4.
Some agencies may have a specific records request form that you are required to fill out, or may accept requests via on online portal. We recommend contacting the agency before submitting the request to confirm their preferred method of submission. See Alabama Explainer Part 8.
You should also plan to follow up with the agency if you submit a request and don’t receive a confirmation of receipt within a week or two.
Sometimes the method of delivery you choose can depend on broader organizing strategies—this request was delivered in person as part of a public action outside the courthouse, followed by a press conference.
Include a detailed description of each specific record or category of records that you are requesting. See Alabama Explainer Part 5.
If the records you are seeking were mentioned in a news article, a government meeting or hearing, or some other source, consider including a footnote with a reference to that source in order to show that the record exists and help the agency identify the record.
You do not need to enclose money when sending your request! However, some state agencies have begun to charge a minimum processing fee on all requests, including ADOC, so that is why payment was included here.
It is still possible to make a short request for a waiver of fees however. We recommend looking at the other Alabama sample request as an example of how to do so [LINK]