Local level SAEC policies/data (Camden County Police Department)
| Tracking # |
W009999-050417 |
| Submitted | May 4, 2017 |
| Est. Completion | May 31, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to Open Public Records Act ("OPRA"), I hereby request the following records:
Any and all statistics, data, reports, audits, policies, and procedures pertaining to the following items regarding sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kits (also known as "rape kits") and processing:
• all standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process
• any written policies or procedures regarding department practices on the acquisition of or handling of rape kit evidence, including protocols for its collection, testing, and delegation and transfer to all other possibly relevant locations, laboratories, or agencies
• the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed
• the number of kits that have been processed by a public or private crime or forensic laboratory or equivalent processing location from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed
• the number of unprocessed kits in any storage facilities currently under the department’s jurisdiction and control, including those held by medical personnel or at external laboratory locations
• any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data.
• all audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits
• all proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits
If there any questions about this request, please feel free to call us at the MuckRock office at 617-299-1832.
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 7 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Beryl Lipton
From: Camden County OPRA Center
Maria Efstratiades
Custodian of Records Telephone: (856) 225 – 2131
Camden County Administration Fax: (856) 580 – 5702
520 Market Street, 11th Floor
Camden, NJ 08102-1375 Dear Beryl Lipton:
Thank you for submitting an Open Public Records request with Camden County. Your request was given the reference number W009999-050417 for tracking purposes.
Our office will forward your request to the appropriate Department for their review and search of their files for the requested records. A written response will be send to you within seven business days or sooner depending on the type of records requested.
Please note that day one of the calculation begins the day after the custodian receives your OPRA request. This calculation applies to the agency’s actual business days of operations which are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If the agency is closed for a holiday, this date does not count towards the seven business day deadline. If any request received after the close of a business day will be deemed received on the next business day.
You may monitor the progress of your request at the link below. Additionally, you will receive an email from our office to inform you that your request has been completed and a response is posted at the below link.
Again, thank you for using the Open Public Records Center.
Open Public Records Center - http://www.camdencounty.com/open-public-records-opra/ (http://www.camdencounty.com/open-public-records-opra/)
Maria Efstratiades
Custodian of Records
From: Camden County OPRA Center
Dear Beryl Lipton,
Thank you for registering with the Camden County Open Public Records Center. Please log in to the Records Center to update any contact or password information and to track the progress of your request.
Login: requests@muckrock.com
If you have never used this system or cannot remember your password you may request a temporary password here:
Request Temporary Password here. (https://mycusthelp.com/CAMDENCOUNTYNJ/_rs/ForgotPassword.aspx)
This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.
From: Camden County OPRA Center
--- Please respond above this line ---
Maria Efstratiades
Custodian of Records Telephone: (856) 225 – 2131
Camden County Administration Fax: (856) 580 – 5702
520 Market Street, 11th Floor
Camden, NJ 08102-1375
05/16/2017
Beryl Lipton MuckRock
DEPT MR 36460 411A Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02144
RE: OPRA Request of 5/4/2017, Reference # W009999-050417
Dear Beryl Lipton,
The Camden County Custodian of Records received your Open Public Records Act request on 5/4/2017. To access your request please click
here. (http://www.camdencounty.com/open-public-records-opra/)
The staff at the Camden County Police Department notified me that they would like an extension of time to respond to your OPRA request. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. I request an extension of time to allow the Camden County Police Department personnel to conduct an extensive search for the requested records. We anticipate that we will have a response ready for you on or about May 31, 2017.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Custodian of Records at (856) 225-2131.
Sincerely,
Michael Mevoli for
Maria Efstratiades
Maria Efstratiades
Custodian of Records
Department of Administration
Office of Archives and Records Management
Courthouse, 11th Floor
520 Market Street
Camden, NJ 08102-1375
Phone 856 225 2131
email: OPRA.Custodian@camdencounty.com
From: Camden County OPRA Center
--- Please respond above this line ---
Maria Efstratiades
Custodian of Records Telephone: (856) 225 – 2131
Camden County Administration Fax: (856) 580 – 5702
520 Market Street, 11th Floor
Camden, NJ 08102-1375
05/30/2017
Beryl Lipton MuckRock
DEPT MR 36460 411A Highland Avenue Somerville MA 02144
RE: OPRA REQUEST of 5/4/2017, Reference # W009999-050417
Dear Beryl Lipton, The Camden County Custodian of Records received your Open Public Records Act request on 5/4/2017. To access your request and records please click
here. (http://www.camdencounty.com/open-public-records-opra/)
The Camden County Police Department (CCPD) conducted a search of their files and provided records for items 1 and 2 of your request for " all standard operating procedures regarding the SAEC process" and " any written policies or procedures regarding department practices on the acquisition of or handling of rape kit evidence, including protocols for its collection, testing, and delegation and transfer to all other possibly relevant locations, laboratories, or agencies" respectively. This document is responsive to both requests.
Additionally, below are the responses that we received from the CCPD for the rest of the items listed in your request:
Your request for " the number of kits collected and booked into evidence from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed" is not a request for records but it is a wholesale request for information that is not encompassed by the intent of OPRA as has been articulated in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et. seq. and MAG Entertainment v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005). However, the CCPD informed the Custodian of Records that there are 29 kits collected from July 12, 2016 to May 8, 2017.
Your request for " the number of kits that have been processed by a public or private crime or forensic laboratory or equivalent processing location from the period of January 1, 2000 through the date this request is processed"
CCPD informed the Custodian of Records that No Records Exist. CCPD does not produce such a log or database. You may want to contact the New Jersey State Police Laboratory.
Your request for " the number of unprocessed kits in any storage facilities currently under the department’s jurisdiction and control, including those held by medical personnel or at external laboratory locations" i s not a request for records but it is a wholesale request for information that is not encompassed by the intent of OPRA as has been articulated in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et. seq. and MAG Entertainment v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005). However, the CCPD informed the Custodian of Records that there are 60 storage kits.
Your request for " any materials regarding the status or ultimate disposition of cases in which a kit was collected. Please include all available segregable data." CCPD informed the Custodian of Records that No Records Exist. CCPD does not create and/or maintain records on case disposition. You may contact the Camden County Prosecutor's Office or the Courts for such records.
Your request for " all audits involving this agency regarding the collection or backlog of SAEC kits" CCPD informed the Custodian of Records that No Records Exist.
Your request for " all proposed alterations or yet-to-be-implemented changes to the policies and procedures regarding the collection, testing, and use of SAEC kits"
CCPD informed the Custodian of Records that No Records Exist.
This letter constitutes completion of your request.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et seq. if your request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a right to challenge the decision by the County of Camden to deny access. As provided by law, you have the right to either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council (GRC) by completing their Denial of Access Complaint Form located at the GRC’s website at www.state.nj.us/grc. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at P.O. Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at grc@dca.state.nj.us. The GRC can also answer other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Superior Court.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Custodian of Records at (856) 225-2131.
Sincerely,
Maria Efstratiades
Maria Efstratiades Custodian of Records Camden County Office of Archives & Records Management Courthouse, 11th Floor 520 Market Street Camden, NJ 08102-1375
Phone: (856) 225-2131 E-mail: opra.custodian@camdencounty.com (mailto:opracustodian@camdencounty.com)
This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY. FOR FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE PLEASE GENERATE A NEW REQUEST THROUGH THE OPEN RECORDS CENTER.
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