Visitation Log & Jail Phone Calls Placed by Alex Murdaugh (Department of Corrections)
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
FOIA-0173-23 |
| Multi Request | Visitation Log & Jail Phone Calls Placed by Alex Murdaugh |
| Submitted | May 31, 2023 |
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Communications
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the South Carolina Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
AtNight Media (formerly Original Media Group) requests audio files of any jail or prison visits and phone calls placed by inmate Alex Murdaugh, who was found guilty of Murder (2 counts) Possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime (2 counts) after a jury trial on March 2, 2023.
If more audio than what was initially released exists, we kindly ask for those to be included.
We would prefer the request be fulfilled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
AtNight Media is a representative of the news media and is primarily engaged in the dissemination of information to the public.
If this request is unclear, please contact me to allow revisions rather than deny the request. Similarly, if the requested data are available only in part, please fulfill the portion of the request that is available rather than denying it in full. For example, notes or reports are available/subject to release but personal identifying information are not, reply with the report summary and omit sensitive information.
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 15 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Nik Hatziefstathiou
From: Department of Corrections
Mr. Hatziefstathiou,
The South Carolina Department of Corrections is in receipt of your attached FOIA request regarding Alex Murdaugh, #368982 as of today, June 1, 2023. Your request has been assigned request number FOIA-0083-21. Please use this number in future correspondence regarding this request. As required by S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-30(C), you will receive a determination regarding the availability of these records within the applicable statutory timeframe.
Sincerely,
SCDC FOIA Office
Post Office Box 21787
Columbia, SC 29221-1787
FOIA@doc.sc.gov<mailto:FOIA@doc.sc.gov>
From: Department of Corrections
Mr. Hatziefstathiou,
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act enumerates several matters which are exempt from disclosure pursuant to the Act or are excluded from the Act’s definition of a public record. Some of the records which you have requested in request 0173-23 are subject to one of these exemptions or exclusions. Specifically, some of the records you have requested are exempt or excluded based on the below listed sections of the FOIA statute. I have forwarded your request to the appropriate records custodians to obtain the requested documents if available. You will receive these records within the applicable statutory timeframe pursuant to SC Code § 30-4-30(c). Please note that these records may be redacted pursuant to the below or any other applicable exemptions or exclusions.
Applicable exemption(s) and/or exclusion(s):
S.C. Code § 30-4-40(a)(7) A public body may exempt from disclosure correspondence or work products of legal counsel for a public body and any other material that would violate attorney-client relationships.
Sincerely,
SCDC FOIA Office
Post Office Box 21787
Columbia, SC 29221-1787
FOIA@doc.sc.gov<mailto:FOIA@doc.sc.gov>
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
Thank you!
From: Department of Corrections
Good morning!
Are you asking for additional information on request FOIA-0173-23 for which we sent the initial availability determination approximately 20 minutes ago? Or are you following up on a different request?
Sincerely,
SCDC FOIA Office
Post Office Box 21787
Columbia, SC 29221-1787
FOIA@doc.sc.gov<mailto:FOIA@doc.sc.gov>
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~WRD0005
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
Hello—I hope all is well. I believe I was just saying thanks! Maybe the system sent it as a request. Sorry about that. I look forward to receiving material related to the request. Have a great afternoon!
From: Department of Corrections
Oh, okay! Our firewalls and whatnot will not allow us to access the MuckRock links which gets confusing sometimes. Sorry! Thank you for the clarification!
Sincerely,
SCDC FOIA Office
Post Office Box 21787
Columbia, SC 29221-1787
FOIA@doc.sc.gov<mailto:FOIA@doc.sc.gov>
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~WRD1017
From: Department of Corrections
Mr. Hatziefstathiou,
You were provided with SCDC’s determination regarding the availability of records responsive to this request on June 14, 2023. As noted at that time, these records may be redacted pursuant to the exemptions or exclusions identified at that time and/or pursuant to additional exemptions or exclusions. Redactions of the provided records were completed pursuant to the below listed statutory provisions.
Applicable exemption(s) and/or exclusion(s):
S.C. Code § 30-4-20(c) Security plans and devices are specifically excluded from the definition of the term “public record.”
S.C. Code § 30-4-40(a)(2) A public body may exempt from disclosure information if release of that information would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy.
All available responsive documents have now been provided to you. As such, FOIA-0173-23 is closed.
Sincerely,
SCDC FOIA Office
Post Office Box 21787
Columbia, SC 29221-1787
FOIA@doc.sc.gov<mailto:FOIA@doc.sc.gov>
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Multimedia Files for Production FOIA-0173-23
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
Thank you! Have a great holiday weekend.
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
Who were these calls with? Any chance you have a call log you can provide w/ numbers redacted of course.
From: Department of Corrections
Unfortunately, the phone system only shows us the phone number called, not who the phone number belongs to. So while I could pull a phone log for you but it would also just have the phone number called which, as you mentioned, would have to be redacted. The only other information I can share is that the three recordings you received were all to different phone numbers.
Sincerely,
SCDC FOIA Office
Post Office Box 21787
Columbia, SC 29221-1787
FOIA@doc.sc.gov<mailto:FOIA@doc.sc.gov>
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~WRD0004
From: Nik Hatziefstathiou
Got it, thanks again!