JSS, Houston
Submitted | April 25, 2019 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Caroline Haskins
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Public reports have stated that the Los Angeles Police Department has made use of services from Justice and Security
Strategies, Inc. (JSS). (http://newweb.jssinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Spotlight-on-Operation-LASER.pdf)
Therefore, I am requesting documents related to the implementation of JSS as they may have been used in Houston. I hereby request:
* Any software and algorithms developed for the implementation of JSS. I'm particularly interested in any algorithms that have a public policy outcome, such as providing guidance on a policy or an assessment of an individual. More generally, I would like any software that was developed by or with, given to, used by, purchased or licensed to this agency for implementation of the above referenced program. This would include original source code, any compiled binaries (also known as executables), spreadsheets, program scripts, and other digital materials used to calculate any data in the above program. It would also include the input training data for machine learning algorithms. Collectively, these responsive materials will be referred to as "the software" in the following paragraphs.
* All instructional materials, presentations and presentation materials (including recorded video and audio, PowerPoint files, prepared remarks, and slides formats), and other guidance on the use of "the software." This includes any notes taking during meetings that discussed the use of the software, any explanations (whether internally or externally generated) of how the software works, and any other document that has been used to help explain the use of "the software" to any party, including internal documentation, public relations materials, and executive summaries. This also includes any description of input and output data fields that will aid in understanding the type of information that is submitted to the software, and that is produced by the software.
* A copy of any privacy impact assessments, use policies, standard operating procedures, data retention policies, legal opinions, warranties, non-disclosure agreements, contracts, liability waivers, insurance agreements, Requests for Proposals, Responses to Requests for Proposal, Memorandums of Understanding, Letters of Interest, usage policies, or informal agreements that reference "the software" or otherwise guide it use or the relationship between this agency and the provider or developer of the software.
* A copy of any funding opportunity announcements, grant applications and grantor status/progress reports, reports to legislative bodies, annual reports that mention the use of the software, as well as audit records, including but not limited to security audits of the software, misuse reports, and reports to oversight bodies.
* A copy of any validation studies conducted with respect to JSS or with respect to any software or algorithms used in connection with JSS, and a copy of any records pertaining to inquiries for the need of validation studies, or discussion of potential or actual validation studies. By “validation study,” I mean any study designed to assess how accurate JSS is in predicting what it is supposed to predict, or to assess whether JSS may err in the direction of either under- or overestimating likelihoods or predicted outcomes, or may produce any results that are biased or unexpected in any way.
* For the aspects of the software that require an input, for example, to compute a value, we request a copy of the five most recent sets of data that were used for input, as well as the five most recent outputs of the software, in whatever their native format is. If these inputs or outputs include exempt information, we ask that you exempt only that information which is specifically exempted from law, and provide the other material.
* Any and all electronic communications that mention JSS, and any attachments in said electronic communications, from members of the HPD . Additionally, any and all electronic communications between members of the HPD and JSS representatives.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. It will be used in the course of reporting for Motherboard, VICE’s science and technology website (www.motherboard.vice.com).
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, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Caroline Haskins
From: Houston Police Department
Dear Caroline Haskins,
Please be aware some of the emails may discuss information that is confidential as a matter of law, open/active criminal investigations, investigations which did not result in conviction/deferred adjudication, attorney-client communications, and/or law enforcement tactics, to include documents from other law enforcement agencies.
Do you agree to allow us to withhold these types of messages? (See 552.101, 552.103, 552.107, and 552.108 of the Texas Government Code, to include documents from other law enforcement agencies)? Please note that if you do not agree to allow us to withhold these messages, and any of the messages contain this type of information, we will need to seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General in order to withhold such messages. This process will add up to approximately 60 business days to the processing time of your request. If you agree to allow us to withhold these types of messages, we will not need to seek the ruling from the AG to withhold them.
In addition, please provide a listing of specific names and date ranges we should search in regards to your request.
Sincerely,
Open Records Unit
Kimberly
-
~WRD000
From: Caroline Haskins
Okay, here is my list:
* Houston Police purchasing agents, including but not limited to:
** Diana Gonzalez Rios
** Mary Olvera
** Elizabeth Fenton
* Houston Mayor:
** Former, Bill White
** Former, Annise Parker
** Current, Sylvester Turner
* Harris County Judge
** Former, Robert Eckels
** Former, Ed Emmett
** Current, Lina Hidalgo
* Houston Director of Public Safety
** Former, Thomas Davis, Jr.
** Current, George T. Buenik
* Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department Chief
** Former, Thomas Lambert
** Current, Vera Bumpers
* Houston Chief of Police, including:
** Current, Art Acevedo
** Former, Charles McClelland, Jr.
** Former, Harold Hurtt
* Harris County Sheriffs, including:
** Tommy Thomas
** Ed Gonzalez
** Adrian Garcia
** Ron Hickman
* Other Houston PD members:
** Michele Stuart
** MP Whitmore
* Additionally, I would like to include every individual listed on this Houston Police Department leadership chart: https://www.houstontx.gov/police/contact/images/org_chart.pdf
Please limit the response of the search from January 1, 2013 to present. Please let me know if this sufficiently narrows the search. Thank you!
Best,
Caroline
From: Houston Police Department
Good afternoon.
We have no responsive information related to your request.
If we can further assist you, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Thank you,
Open Records Unit - ksc