YLC - DOJ

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All agency records regarding a civil rights complaint filed in July 2015 by Youth Law Center regarding San Diego County Probation Department. I am not seeking the complaint itself, but agency records created in response or regarding the complaint.

For reference:
http://www.ylc.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/San%20Diego%20Pepper%20Spray%20Press%20Release%20-%20Final.pdf

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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Dave Maass

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to appeal the decision to withhold records regarding my FOIA related to the Youth Law Center complaint on the abuse of pepper spray and solitary confinement at the San Diego County Probation Office's juvenile halls.

As you know, the federal government has a duty to presume openness when it comes to records. The letter rejecting my request indicates that DOJ considered discretionary release of documents, but decided not to.

I believe this decision was a mistake and that the public deserves to review at least a portion of the records generated.

The YLC complaint is of significant public interest; there is strong evidence that San Diego County has harmed minors in its custody through negligent practices. Among these was the suicide of a young girl improperly placed in solitary. The county recently paid $1 million in damages to the family. There is also pending legislation regarding many of these issues.

In order for the people of San Diego and the people of California to have an informed debate about when and how and if pepper spray and solitary confinement should be use with juveniles, they must have access to some of the DOJ's work.

I urge you to reexamine the records for documents that may be released under FOIA and to discretionarily release as many records as possible.

Sincerely,

Dave Maass