Prison Records Request — Media [Floroda Dept. of Corrections]
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
19-0726 |
| Submitted | Dec. 20, 2019 |
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Communications
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Florida Sunshine Law, I hereby request the following records:
Original Media Group requests the twenty (20) most recent audio and/or video files of prison visitations with inmate John Joseph Connolly Jr. (born August 1, 1940), a former FBI agent-turned-high-profile inmate who garnered international attention after he was convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and murder charges stemming from his relationship with James "Whitey" Bulger, Steve Flemmi, and the Winter Hill Gang.
Additionally, Original Media kindly requests audio copies of all phone calls made by inmate Connolly from May 2019 to Present Day. Connolly, a former FBI agent, was sentenced to 40 years imprisonments in 2008 in connection to a burglary. Connolly was released from federal prison on June 28, 2011, and transferred to Florida State Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence for his 2008 second degree murder conviction.
If more audio than what was initially released exists, we kindly ask for those to be included.
Original Media is a representative of the news media and is primarily engaged in the dissemination of information to the public.
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 10 business days.
Sincerely,
Nik Hatziefstathiou
From: Department of Corrections
Mr. Hatziefstathiou:
The Department of Corrections is in receipt of an email public records request dated December 20, 2019 directed to the Florida Department of Corrections, Public Records Unit, for the twenty (20) most recent audio and/or video files of prison visitations with inmate John Joseph Connolly Jr. (born August 1, 1940), a former FBI agent-turned-high-profile inmate who garnered international attention after he was convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and murder charges stemming from his relationship with James "Whitey" Bulger, Steve Flemmi, and the Winter Hill Gang; audio copies of all phone calls made by inmate Connolly from May 2019 to Present Day.
Please be advised that I have forwarded your request to Josh Bush, Office of Inspector General, for review and response. If any records are determined to exist, the custodian/s will provide your office an invoice for production of the records and, upon receipt of payment, the records will be provided in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes and Sec. 945.10, Florida Statutes. Please be advised that due to volume of requests received by Office of Inspector General, their average response time is 4-6 weeks.
If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact the Office of Communications at (850) 488-0420. Thank you.
Dianne H. Houpt
Public Information Specialist
Florida Department of Corrections
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500
Office: (850) 717-3605
Direct: (850) 717-3615
Fax: (850) 922-4355
[FDC Seal_Digital.png]
Inspiring Success by Transforming One Life at a Time
Respect * Integrity * Courage * Selfless Service * Compassion
CONFIDENTIALITY & PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: This message and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information that is exempt from public disclosure. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by phone and destroy the original and all copies. Please be aware that the State of Florida has a broad public records law and that any correspondence sent to this email address may be subject to public disclosure.
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From: Department of Corrections
Mr. Hatziefstathiou:
Please be advised that video files of prison visitations is not releasable pursuant to the following appropriate statutory authority:
Surveillance video/video recordings are confidential and exempt from public disclosure pursuant to the following statutory exemptions:
* Records, information, photographs, audio and visual presentations, schematic diagrams, surveys, recommendations, or consultations or portions thereof relating directly to the physical security of an institution or revealing security systems of an institution. §§ 119.071(3) and 281.301, F.S.
* Information revealing surveillance techniques, procedures or personnel § 119.071(2)(d), F.S.
Dianne H. Houpt
Public Information Specialist
Florida Department of Corrections
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500
Office: (850) 717-3605
Direct: (850) 717-3615
Fax: (850) 922-4355
[FDC Seal_Digital.png]
Inspiring Success by Transforming One Life at a Time
Respect * Integrity * Courage * Selfless Service * Compassion
CONFIDENTIALITY & PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: This message and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information that is exempt from public disclosure. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by phone and destroy the original and all copies. Please be aware that the State of Florida has a broad public records law and that any correspondence sent to this email address may be subject to public disclosure.
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
Thank you Ms. Houpt! I hope all is well. Are you able to provide the steps required for an appeal? The videos we request are the same format as the ones previously released in State of Florida vs. Casey Marie Anthony, redacting any and all personal information that may be compromised with such release. Just to clarify, we are not seeking surveillance footage -- just visitation video similar to the above captioned case, previously released (different case, same format of request). I hope that helps clarify! Have a Merry Christmas!
From: Department of Corrections
Mr. Hatziefstathiou:
Please be advised that audio copies of inmate phone calls are not releasable pursuant to the following appropriate statutory authority:
Inmate telephone call recordings are not releasable, as defined in Section 119.011(12), Florida Statutes. See Bent v. State of Florida & Al Lamberti, 2010 WL 3766948 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010)
Please also be advised that I previously sent you an email on December 20, 2019 advising you that video files of prison visitations are not releasable with the appropriate statutory authority, which would include the audio of prison visitations requested in your email.
Dianne H. Houpt
Public Information Specialist
Florida Department of Corrections
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500
Office: (850) 717-3605
Direct: (850) 717-3615
Fax: (850) 922-4355
[FDC Seal_Digital.png]
Inspiring Success by Transforming One Life at a Time
Respect * Integrity * Courage * Selfless Service * Compassion
CONFIDENTIALITY & PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: This message and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information that is exempt from public disclosure. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by phone and destroy the original and all copies. Please be aware that the State of Florida has a broad public records law and that any correspondence sent to this email address may be subject to public disclosure.
