Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: Public Records Request for Data on School Policing

Dear Joseph Steinbach
Thank you for your interest in public records of Boston Police Department. Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on 9/16/2024 10:12:08 PM and given the reference number B002706-091624 for tracking purposes.
If this is a media request, please contact the Office of Media Relations directly at 617.343.4520.
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. An extract of your records management system or database that includes each school-related arrest and each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced). Specifically, we request an extract of the database to include the following columns:

a. Date of arrest or referral to law enforcement

b. Time of arrest or referral to law enforcement

c. Charge (or charges)

d. Whether the individual(s) was arrested or referred to law enforcement

e. Sex of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

f. Age of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

g. Race of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

h. Ethnicity of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

i. Disability status of the individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

j. Whether the individual arrested or referred to law enforcement is a student at the school.

k. Name of arresting officer, if applicable, and

l. Badge number of the arresting officer or the officer that referred the youth to law enforcement, as applicable.

2. If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide police reports and school incident reports on each school-related arrest conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

3. Please provide an unduplicated count of arrested students for each school year including 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

4. If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide police reports and school incident reports on each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced), per the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection for that year. For each referral to law enforcement, please include the school, demographic, and incident information described in DESE’s School Safety and Discipline Report Data Handbook v. 20.0.

5. Please also provide an unduplicated counts of referrals to law enforcement (as defined above) for each school year including 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Joseph Steinbach

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/steinbachj25/133288/Boston_PD_PRR.pdf
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Public Records Center.
Director, Public Information
Boston Police Department

Track the issue status and respond at: https://bostonma.govqa.us/WEBAPP//_rs/RequestEdit.aspx?rid=35231

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Reference No: B002706-091624 Dear Joseph Steinbach: The Boston Police Department (BPD) has received your request for public records.  This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the BPD. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115.  It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests.  950 CMR 32.04(5).  Specifically, you stated: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. An extract of your records management system or database that includes each school-related arrest and each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced). Specifically, we request an extract of the database to include the following columns:

a. Date of arrest or referral to law enforcement

b. Time of arrest or referral to law enforcement

c. Charge (or charges)

d. Whether the individual(s) was arrested or referred to law enforcement

e. Sex of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

f. Age of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

g. Race of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

h. Ethnicity of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

i. Disability status of the individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

j. Whether the individual arrested or referred to law enforcement is a student at the school.

k. Name of arresting officer, if applicable, and

l. Badge number of the arresting officer or the officer that referred the youth to law enforcement, as applicable.

2. If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide police reports and school incident reports on each school-related arrest conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

3. Please provide an unduplicated count of arrested students for each school year including 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

4. If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide police reports and school incident reports on each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced), per the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection for that year. For each referral to law enforcement, please include the school, demographic, and incident information described in DESE’s School Safety and Discipline Report Data Handbook v. 20.0.

5. Please also provide an unduplicated counts of referrals to law enforcement (as defined above) for each school year including 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Joseph Steinbach

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/steinbachj25/133288/Boston_PD_PRR.pdf
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ A response to a public records request must be provided within ten (10) business days from the business day a written request was received.  G. L. c. 66, § 10 (a); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(b).  The public records law permits a response time of up to twenty-five (25) business days from the business day a written request is received, so long as a detailed explanation is provided.  G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vi); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(i). Due to the nature of your request additional time is needed. As such, BPD will need up to, but no more than, fifteen (15) additional business days to review and process your request.

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11/05/2024 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of September 16, 2024., Reference # B002706-091624, SPR24/2927 Dear Joseph Steinbach: The Boston Police Department (Department) has received a copy of your petition to the Supervisor of Public Records, related to your request for public records.  In your request, you stated:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. An extract of your records management system or database that includes each school-related arrest and each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced). Specifically, we request an extract of the database to include the following columns:

a. Date of arrest or referral to law enforcement

b. Time of arrest or referral to law enforcement

c. Charge (or charges)

d. Whether the individual(s) was arrested or referred to law enforcement

e. Sex of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

f. Age of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

g. Race of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

h. Ethnicity of individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

i. Disability status of the individual(s) arrested or referred to law enforcement

j. Whether the individual arrested or referred to law enforcement is a student at the school.

k. Name of arresting officer, if applicable, and

l. Badge number of the arresting officer or the officer that referred the youth to law enforcement, as applicable.

2. If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide police reports and school incident reports on each school-related arrest conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

3. Please provide an unduplicated count of arrested students for each school year including 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

4. If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide police reports and school incident reports on each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced), per the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection for that year. For each referral to law enforcement, please include the school, demographic, and incident information described in DESE’s School Safety and Discipline Report Data Handbook v. 20.0.

5. Please also provide an unduplicated counts of referrals to law enforcement (as defined above) for each school year including 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school year (up until the day the records are produced).

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Joseph Steinbach

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/steinbachj25/133288/Boston_PD_PRR.pdf
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ You are appealing the Department's nonresponse to your request.  Please be assured that the Department is working on locating the records that are responsive to this request.  The Department will provide you with the responsive records within ten business days of receiving this appeal and no later than November 19, 2024. A copy of any update, as well as this communication will be provided to the Supervisor of Public Records.  I ask that any written determination by the Supervisor acknowledge this communication as an act of cooperation towards resolving any outstanding issues associated with your request for public records. Sincerely, Christine O'Donnell Assistant Corporation Counsel Office of the Legal Advisor Boston Police Department
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the Public Records Center. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.VEsWrlMiJDg0mXafq1mEXTIDeIcW7QPGcxbg2r6mBl4IQAtcuUR-2B6-2B48u6MWdi-2FuNfsoFtzUO-2FiE2Z5NHdOxR7axD-2BnEDaH2VFtjFfGArtw-3D34te_2O3ajKBXSjqd0Y0fFw7JOADTH7U3-2BySJ1sMMq7-2FeaOGgOTmgQgpS7SpcBL6X9e1YpCs3rhGcyhcIybtUToZNVXv4qdlmfWNjkvES4LIJ8VOZ3My-2FsX6Hl8YXmmwsxpHxqrmWE5T3It0ZR0IxO1GYINgOIM1etG7VpS51tDGTqhieCqGwJFAtbOxfWuH2I7UsJvbsK2ui5ba-2B7VUVpy0-2BhVEA4ubvLV8xjfGoTZJbLvbNB0EVo9zvmIwf5M-2BP3ZRoY-2BVj8Kj3vV1Q-2BFHe2gCdgFMa0h69p-2B4J1TJnLItY5ZWaW5mYPb-2BqnUMLKgZz9Tbb-2B-2BUmvXtwZqhP8Kryr3PmJ0gkTq0lDECJv6nu8TMBbr4Ygb8GT9iXRJv5qEsqNEJJ)

Hello,

Unfortunately your email was not recognized and has not been routed accordingly.  Please be advised that if you wish to submit a new request or check on the status of an already submitted request, you should visit the Public Records Center. Description: TO: "City of Boston"[CityofBoston@govqa.us]
CC: [manza.arthur@sec.state.ma.us]

Boston Police Department
Sec. of the Commonwealth MA
Public Records
1 Ashburton Pl. #1719
Boston, MA 02108
November 20, 2024
This is a follow up to request number B002706-091624:
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Sept. 16, 2024. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Nov. 19, 2024. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #B002706-091624.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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On Nov. 5, 2024:
Subject: Police Records Request :: B002706-091624

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