Skip to main content

Opinion

Opinion By: Albert B. Chandler III,Attorney General;James M. Ringo,Assistant Attorney General

Open Records Decision

This matter having been presented to the Attorney General in an open records appeal, and the Attorney General being sufficiently advised, we find that the Northpoint Training Center properly relied on KRS 197.025(2), incorporated into the Open Records Act by operation of KRS 61.878(1)(l), in denying Frank Simpson's August 14, 2001 request for a copy of a memorandum at the Northpoint Training Center regarding inmate possession of softball or baseball cleats.

We believe that 98-ORD-150, as it relates to the 1998 amendments to KRS 197.025, and as affirmed with respect to copies of corrections policies and procedures in 00-ORD-2, is controlling. Copies of these decisions are attached hereto and incorporated by reference. Here, as in 00-ORD-2, the requester asserts that corrections policies and procedures concerns all inmates and thus relates directly to him, and here as in 00-ORD-2, we reject this argument. Because such policies and procedures are applicable to every inmate housed by the Department of Corrections, "to require disclosure to [Mr. Simpson], and every other inmate with a similarly tenuous claim, would defeat the purpose for which KRS 197.025(2) was enacted." In the absence of any evidence of an abuse of discretion vested in the institution, we affirm the Northpoint Training Center's denial of Mr. Simpson's request.

Frank Simpson, # 104529-D5P.O. Box 479Burgin, KY 40310-0479

Kathy GiffordNorthpoint Training CenterP.O. Box 479Burgin, KY 40310

Brian A. LoganStaff AttorneyDepartment of CorrectionsOffice of General Counsel2439 Old Lawrenceburg RoadFrankfort, KY 40602-2400

LLM Summary
The decision affirms the denial of Frank Simpson's request for a copy of a memorandum at the Northpoint Training Center regarding inmate possession of softball or baseball cleats. The denial was based on KRS 197.025(2), which is incorporated into the Open Records Act by KRS 61.878(1)(l), and supported by precedents 98-ORD-150 and 00-ORD-002. These precedents establish that corrections policies and procedures are confidential and applicable to all inmates, and disclosing them based on a general claim by any inmate would undermine the purpose of the statute.
Disclaimer:
The Sunshine Law Library is not exhaustive and may contain errors from source documents or the import process. Nothing on this website should be taken as legal advice. It is always best to consult with primary sources and appropriate counsel before taking any action.
Requested By:
Frank Simpson
Agency:
Northpoint Training Center
Type:
Open Records Decision
Lexis Citation:
2001 Ky. AG LEXIS 168
Neighbors

Support Our Work

The Coalition needs your help in safeguarding Kentuckian's right to know about their government.