tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9599422.post6533274360592194311..comments2023-10-20T06:51:55.948-04:00Comments on SeeingGreene: BlotteryDick Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485935634961545610noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9599422.post-41151437972671686782010-01-19T23:54:04.914-05:002010-01-19T23:54:04.914-05:00Two observations:
1. The Catskill department'...Two observations:<br /><br />1. The Catskill department's position is faulty on numerous grounds as far as New York State's Freedom of Information Law goes. There are only a very specific number of very specific grounds for denying access to public records. That such records are in electronic form and the agency in question can't be bothered to figure out how to either print them out or else transfer them to another electronic format (i.e., outputting them to email or a PDF, so that you don't have to sit in front of the police department terminal) is not your problem. Moreover, New York State passed in recent years sweeping laws regarding access to electronic records. My suggestion would be to (A) submit a formal FOIL request for these records; (B) submit a request for an advisory opinion to Bob Freeman of the NYS Committee on Open Government, describing the situation and asking what laws apply; (C) submit Freeman's response to the agency; and (D) if you still aren't getting satisfaction, find a courageous lawyer willing to help you file an Article 78 suit to force the issue. (At that point, the department will probably say Uncle and give you what you're asking for. Or else you win your case and ask the court to have the agency pay your attorney fees.)<br /><br />2. There's another problem with these blotter entries, whether in the Daily Mail, the Register, or most any other paper, besides the lack of context provided about the arrest: the results of the arrest are rarely published. So if, say, the editor of SeeingGreene is arrested on any flimsy charge, his name will be paraded in the paper for all to see. The dismissal of the flimsy charges will not be. There ought to be not just a Police Blotter, but a Court blotter...Sam P. in Columbia Countyhttp://www.sampratt.comnoreply@blogger.com