ME- Advocate Tip From Maine

7-27-2009 National:

From our friends in Maine: CFC Maine

Apparently someone has sent the following FOIA request letter -to the State of Maine- seeking to find out who may have wanted information about them from any agency of the state, including the state's public sex offender registry.

While this may be a good idea, I also think there may be a error in the letter: I do believe, and will stand corrected if someone researches this further, that a letter must be sent to each state agency's FOIA Coordinator. I do not think one letter can be used to cover ALL state agencies. Secondly, Federal FOIA requests, must be sent to federal agencies individually and not to the state. Whether state or federal each entity has its own FOIA Coordinator.

Two additional points about FOIA requests: 1) A reason why someone wants the information generally is not necessary, but I do agree here, that, citing past harm that has resulted from sex offenders being publicly listed should be included as it was here (PS: Anyone may get names of RSOs harmed from my Murdered RSO Blog or vigilante acts from my Vigilantism blog); 2) Unfortunately ALL FOIA laws have EXCEPTIONS, reasons why they do not have to comply with a specific FOIA request, but as noted in the letter they do have to be cited in a denial.

All-in-all, I am looking forward to the results of this one. Hats off to the Mainiac that thought this one up. PS: Anyone with additional thoughts, I am all ears..

eAdvocate


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SAMPLE FOIA REQUEST LETTER:
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Monday, July 25th, 2009

Maine Dept. of Public Safety
Anne H. Jordan, Commissioner
45 Commerce Drive
Suite 1, 104 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0104

Request for Information Pursuant to Maine Revised Statues, Title 1, Chapter 13, Subchapter 1: Freedom Of Access and under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S. C. subsection 552.

Dear Commissioner Jordan:

Pursuant to Maine Revised Statues, Title 1, Chapter 13, Subchapter 1: Freedom Of Access and under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S. C. subsection 552, I am requesting access to any and all files related to the State Sex Offender Registry for one xxxxxxxxx, myself.

I respectfully submit this request in consideration of events here in Maine and Nationally where individuals using State sponsored and supported Sex Offender Registry Information have used said information to locate and find Registered Former Offenders to then commit acts of violence, property damage and even the murder of Registered Former Sex Offenders and/or their family members. The State sponsored and supported Sex Offender Registry has put my family and I in danger and the release and disclosure of the requested information is paramount in taking steps to identify and protect myself, my family and my property from individuals who would use the State sponsored and supported information to harm myself and/or my family.

The information I am requesting includes any and all requests submitted to the State of Maine and/or State of Maine Sex Offender Registry for copies of and/or for requests for information on xxxxxxxx, myself, by anyone including, but not limited to, the general public, State Agencies, Agents of any State, Federal or any other Governmental Agency. Discovery should include any and all the names, position or title, addresses, phone numbers, ISP (Internet Service Provider) address if requests and/or viewing of xxxxxxxxxx's information was facilitated by electronic means such as, but not limited to, computers, Palm Pilot, cell phone, of other means not requiring interpersonal contact for requesting information and/or viewing xxxxxxxxxxx‘s State sponsored and supported Sex Offender Registry information.

If there are any fees for searching for or copying the records, please let me know before you work on my request. [Or, please supply the records without informing me of the cost if the fees do not exceed $20.00 (twenty dollars and no cents) which I agree to pay.] Any or All files, records and/or information may be provided electronically/digitally via email or DVD when and where possible and to pursue environmental goals to reduce waste.

If you deny all or any part of this request, please cite each specific exemption you think justifies your refusal to release the information and notify me of appeal procedures available under the law.

Optional: If you have any questions about handling this request, you may telephone me at xxxxxxx

Sincerely,



xxxxxx

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..Source.. by ME-CFC