Boston Marijuana Citations

Lukas Knight filed this request with the Boston Police Department of Boston, MA.
Est. Completion None
Status
No Responsive Documents

Communications

From: Lukas Knight

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

Aggregate data of the total number of written citations for the simple possession of marijuana since the passage of decriminalization in 2008, as well as the results of these written citations (i.e. of the total how many court summonses, how many of these court summonses resulted in an appearance in court, how many of said appearances resulted in a payment of the $100 fine and how many resulted in successful appeals of the citation).

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, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not 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 fees cannot be waived, 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,

Lukas Knight

From: Media Relations

October 13, 2015

Lukas Knight
Muckrock

Dear Mr. Knight:

Pursuant to G. L. c. 66, § 10 (b), this correspondence is to confirm
receipt of your request for documents that are potentially in the
possession, custody or control of the Boston Police Department.
Specifically, you have requested:

Aggregate data of the total number of written citations for the simple
possession of marijuana since the passage of decriminalization in 2008, as
well as the results of these written citations (i.e. of the total how many
court summonses, how many of these court summonses resulted in an
appearance in court, how many of said appearances resulted in a payment of
the $100 fine and how many resulted in successful appeals of the citation).

We will contact you as soon as possible with our findings, and will send
you a cost estimate for your requested materials if fulfilling the request
is expected to exceed $10.00, per 950 C.M.R. 32.06(1); 950 C.M.R. 32.03;
M.G.L. c 66 § 10(a).

Please be advised that we research each request in the order it was
received, and it may take longer than ten days to be fulfilled. If your
request requires a substantial amount of research, reviewing and redacting,
fulfilling the request will take a significant amount of time. Please plan
accordingly.

Thank you,

Office of Media Relations
Boston Police Department
*617-343-3520*
*www.bpdnews.com

From: Media Relations

Dear Mr Knight,

The Boston Police Department has conducted a search for documents
responsive to this request. The BPD does not track or have aggregate data
on the total number of citations issued for possession of marijuana. Also
we do not keep nor do we track results of the citations as they move
through the court process. As such, the BPD does not have any documents
responsive to your request.

Should you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Lt. McCarthy
Director, Media Relations

Files

There are no files associated with this request.