Even though Access/Rhode Island did not have standing to file this complaint, we reviewed this complaint consistent with this Department's independent statutory authority as described in West Warwick School Department, PR 15-23. Access/Rhode Island contended that the Police Department violated...
Even though Access/Rhode Island did not have standing to file this complaint, we reviewed this complaint consistent with this Department's independent statutory authority as described in West Warwick School Department, PR 15-23. Access/Rhode Island contended that the Department of Corrections...
Access/Rhode Island hired a third-party named MuckRock from Boston, Massachusetts to conduct an Access to Public Records Act ("APRA") survey regarding various state and local government APRA compliance within Rhode Island. After considering the facts and applicable case law, this Department...
The Complainant alleged the Rhode Island Department of Transportation ("RIDOT") violated the APRA when it denied her APRA request seeking documents regarding the "Draft Feasibility Study for Phase 4 Canonchet Farm Bike Path." The RIDOT denied the request pursuant to R.I. Gen Laws § 38-2-2(4)(K)...
The Lonsdale Fire District violated the APRA when it failed to timely respond to an APRA request and failed to identify the specific reasons for the denial. The Fire District was directed to respond to the APRA requests in a manner consistent with the APRA and this Department's finding, and was...
Complainants sought access to a Pawtucket Police Department internal affairs report. The City denied the request on the grounds that disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. After reviewing the internal affairs report in camera, using case law for guidance,...
The Western Coventry Fire District ("Fire District") violated the OMA when it untimely posted on the Secretary of State's website approved minutes of seven (7) of its meetings. The Fire District also violated the OMA when the evidence revealed that it failed to post official and/or approved...
This Department initiated an APRA investigation against the Fire District for failure to timely comply with R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3.16. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(d). The evidence showed that despite repeated notice from this Department and despite the District's assurances that the...
The Department of Environmental Management ("DEM") did not violate the APRA when it withheld from disclosure a document prepared within a client/attorney relationship, and therefore, not deemed public pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(a). Based upon case law from the Rhode Island and...
