2020-2021 Prison Transfer Records

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, I hereby request the following records:

Records of the number of transfers conducted by DOCCS in 2020 and 2021. I understand that this information might be collected in different ways and have outlined specific requests in relation to what I anticipate might be possible below. If none of the below is possible or if records pertinent to prison transfers (i.e., movements) are collected/saved in a way that I have not captured, please contact me with more information. I am flexible and can modify my request to be responsive to the records that exist.

REQUEST:
I request information on movements/transfers between DOCCS facilities conducted between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021. This would include any non-temporary change in an incarcerated person’s housing facility. In other words, any movement of an incarcerated person that would change their “Housing/Releasing Facility” as listed on DOCCS's "Incarcerated Lookup," for example. This would include – but is not limited to – movements resulting from disciplinary proceedings (i.e., raised security level or other safety risks), movements to lower security facilities, transfers resulting from incarcerated person-initiated transfer requests, transfers preceding facility closure, and/or transfers to accommodate medical, program, or other needs. This would not include movements such as: a temporary transfer to a hospital for a medical procedure; a temporary transfer to court for a court appointment; or a one-night or few-hour “stop-over” at a DOCCS facility on the way to another facility.

If movements/transfers are recorded in such a way as to distinguish movements that result in changes in housing facility from temporary movements, then I request records of every inter-facility, non-temporary (as described above) transfer made in 2020 and 2021. For each, I request the following insofar as is possible:

a) The name of the sending facility
b) The name of the receiving facility
c) The date of the transfer
d) The reason for transfer
e) Any transfer considerations, as recorded/described
f) Any additional explanation of the causes for transfer, as recorded/described
g) Unique identifier for each person transferred, if possible

CONTINGENCIES:
If transfers are not disaggregated between temporary movements and non-temporary movements, then I request the above information for all movements.

However these records are available is acceptable, with the priority being records that include the information listed above (including if this means requesting multiple types of records).

For example, if the information above is available in a summary table organized by day, week, month, or another unit of time, I request that summary table. Or, if it is available as redacted versions of transfer forms for each transfer, then I request those forms (such as form 8.6, “Transfer Referral,” KITSM86; or form 4.5.1 “Transfer Review,” KGNCM4B). In other words, I’m flexible with what is available based on DOCCS record-making and record-keeping systems. If the above is impossible, please contact me to discuss what is available.

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Iolanthe Brooks