Howard County Weekend Incarceration Fees
| Tracking # |
174393-38320127 |
| Submitted | Oct. 11, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Kelly Stevenson
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Related to Maryland Code §11-801, which permits counties to impose fees on "weekend incarcerated individuals"; specifically:
1. The per diem rate, or daily charge, of the weekend incarceration fee imposed in the county detention/correctional facility both currently and in FY23.
2. The daily “average cost of providing food, lodging, and clothing for an incarcerated individual” in the county detention/correctional facility used to calculate the weekend incarceration fee in FY23.
3. The total number of individuals charged the weekend incarceration fee in the county detention/correctional facility in FY23.
4. The total amount of fees collected from weekend incarcerated individuals in the county detention/correctional facility in FY23.
5. All policies and procedures regarding the imposition and collection of the weekend incarceration fee, including but not limited to guidelines on how these fees are determined and collected in the county detention/correctional facility.
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.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Kelly Stevenson
From: Howard County Finance Department
October 24, 2024
Kelly Stevenson
requests@muckrock.com
Hello,
This letter is to confirm receipt of your email to Howard County Government’s Office of County Administration, requesting information in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act, 4-101 et seq. of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (the “PIA”), which this office received 10-24-2024.
Specifically, you asked for "See attached document. "
Upon receipt of your request, a custodian must grant or deny the request not more than 30 days after receiving the request. However, if a custodian believes it will take more than 10 business days to respond to the request, the custodian must notify the requestor in writing or by email within that time period of the following: the amount of time it will take to produce the public record, an estimate of fees (if applicable) and the reason for the delay. Additionally, please note that under Section 4-206 of the PIA, a custodian may charge a fee for the search for, preparation of, and reproduction of a public record; this fee prorated for each individual's salary and actual time attributable to the search for and preparation of a public record. In addition, per Howard County Council Resolution No. 68-2022, the County charges a copying fee of $0.25 per page for a black and white paper copy. If electronic copies of the responsive records exist, they are free of charge; however, when an electronic response, or portion thereof, is too large to send electronically, the response, or portion thereof, will be provided either in paper format, or electronically on a CD, DVD or flash drive, as the requester specifies. The cost of a CD, DVD or flash drive is the actual cost of the CD, DVD, or flash drive.
For more information on the PIA, please visit Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General website at http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/OpenGov/pia.aspx. (http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/OpenGov/pia.aspx)
Sincerely,
Keyonna Kinsler
Ref:MSG5329345
From: Howard County Finance Department
October 31, 2024
Kelly Stevenson
requests@muckrock.com
Dear Ms./Mr. Stevenson,
The following is in response to your email to Howard County Government’s Department of County Administration, requesting information in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act, 4-101 et seq. of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (the “PIA”), which this office received 10-24-2024.
Specifically, you asked for "See attached document. "
Please note, the PIA grants you the right to review responsive and available public records that are not otherwise exempted from disclosure, and to obtain copies of those records. A “public record,” within the meaning of the PIA, is the original or copy of any documentary material in any form created or received by an agency in connection with the transaction of public business. Accordingly, a party responding to a PIA request is not required to answer questions or fill out paperwork.
In a separate email from Keyonna Kinsler, are copies of the record that the County's Dept. of Corrections has responsive to your request.
While Howard County has the right under the Public Information Act to charge you for search time in excess of two hours, no more than two hours was expended on your request.
Pursuant to MPIA § 4-362, you are entitled to seek judicial review of this decision by filing a complaint in the Circuit Court for Howard County or the Circuit Court in Maryland in the County where you reside or maintain a principal place of business. You may also refer any concerns about this decision to the Public Access Ombudsman pursuant to MPIA § 4-1B-01 et seq.
Sincerely,
Keyonna Kinsler
Ref:MSG5361230