Mortality Data and Related Policies, 2000-2020

Nicole Kanu filed this request on behalf of COVID Prison Project with the Department of Correction of Arkansas.
Est. Completion None
Status
Fix Required

Communications

From: COVID Prison Project

Cathy Frye
Public Information Officer
Arkansas Department of Corrections
6814 Princeton Pike
Pine Bluff, AR 71602

To Cathy Frye:

Pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act § 25-19-101 et seq. I hereby request the following records:

– Those which include time and date of all instances of death occurring in the offender population between January 2000 and December 2020.

– Those which indicate the total number of individuals in Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADOC) custody who died by any cause, separated monthly, from January 2000 to December 2020.

– Monthly population records that include the total number of deaths occurring among people in the custody of the ADOC between January 2000 and December 2020.

– Final reports of death for all individuals in ADOC custody who died between January 2000 and December 2020.

Additionally, I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of any and all ADOC policies, regulations, and procedures, pertaining to...

– Investigations of in-custody deaths.

– Requirements for the performance of an autopsy or post-mortem medical examination of individuals who die while in ADOC custody.

– The reporting of in-custody deaths to other governmental agencies.

– Next-of-kin notification in the event of in-custody deaths.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not. However, we respectfully request a waiver of these fees as we are affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, and this request is made for a scholarly or scientific purpose and not for a commercial use.

The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act requires a response within three business days. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Forrest Behne
Policy Director, COVID Prison Project
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Office: (919) 391-7962
340 MacNider Hall | Campus Box 7240
333 South Columbia Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7240

From: Department of Correction

FOI requests should be sent to Bilenda Harris Ritter. She has been copied on this email.

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FIND US HERE:
Website<https://doc.arkansas.gov/> - Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/ARDeptofCorrections/> - Twitter<https://twitter.com/ADCPIO> - Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/arcorrections/> - LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-of-correction-arkansas>

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message and any attachments is the property of the State of Arkansas and may be protected by state and
federal laws governing disclosure of private information. It is for the intended recipient only. If an addressing or transmission error has
misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to it. If you are not the intended recipient you may not use, disclose,
distribute, copy, print or rely on this e-mail.

From: Department of Correction

Mr. Behne,

Are you an Arkansas resident? The Arkansas Freedom of Information Act gives "any citizen of the State of Arkansas" access to public records and public meetings, with some exceptions. We are not, however, required to supply information to those who reside outside of Arkansas, per A.C.A. §25-19-105.

David Wilson
Arkansas Department of Corrections

FIND US HERE:
Website<https://doc.arkansas.gov/> - Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/ARDeptofCorrections/> - Twitter<https://twitter.com/ADCPIO> - Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/arcorrections/> - LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/department-of-correction-arkansas>

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message and any attachments is the property of the State of Arkansas and may be protected by state and federal laws governing disclosure of private information. It is for the intended recipient only. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to it. If you are not the intended recipient you may not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely on this e-mail.

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