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Tag: FOIA

  • Brother of man who died at Pa. ICE detention center sues U.S. government

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    A lawsuit has been filed against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security by the brother of Chaofeng Ge, a 32-year-old Chinese immigrant who died at a Central Pennsylvania detention facility.

    At the Moshannon Valley Processing Center on Aug. 5, Ge was found dead in a shower stall with a cloth wrapped around his neck and with his legs and hands tied behind his back, according to the lawsuit. 

    MORE: U.S. Mint in Philly makes last penny after more than 230 years of production

    Yangeng Ge, the detainee’s brother, filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming federal officials unlawfully ignored his Freedom of Information Act request seeking answers about his brother’s death. 

    ICE’s Detainee Death Report for the inmate lists that he was brought to MVPC on July 31 after being convicted of accessing an electronic device issued to another who did not authorize use. It also lists the emergency procedures that officials took after finding Ge unresponsive. 

    David Rankin, a lawyer with New York-based law firm Beldock Levine & Hoffman, who is representing Ge’s family on the case, refuted this information in an emailed statement. He said he understood Ge was held at the facility for “a number of months.” 

    “We do not understand the information about how long he was at MVPC to be correct — which makes the whole report highly suspect,” Rankin said via email. “A chronology of what happened after they discovered him does not shed light on why it happened. … Hopefully standing up and demanding transparency will encourage others to do the same. The more we can shed light on what happens at MVPC the better.” 

    ICE said it “cannot comment on pending litigation.”

    The lawsuit claims Ge felt isolated in MVPC because no one in the facility spoke Mandarin and the staff made no effort to communicate with him. Rankin said this allegation was corroborated by interviews with people who left the facility and medical records. 

    Yangeng Ge filed a FOIA request through his attorneys on Sept. 9 seeking information about his brother’s detention including details about the conditions of the facility, his treatment by personnel and the circumstances of his death, the lawsuit said.

    On Sept. 15, Yangeng Ge said he received confirmation from the U.S. Postal Service that ICE received the request, but he said it went “unlawfully ignored” because the agency was required to inform him whether hey would comply within 20 days of receipt. 

    “The government is so committed to keeping the public in the dark about what is happening at these detention centers that it is willing to violate the law,” Jeremy Ravinsky, associate attorney at Beldock Levine & Hoffman, said in a statement. “This lawsuit calls for much needed transparency into how the government is treating detainees.”  

    Yangeng Ge is seeking injunctive relief and for the agencies to release all records pertaining to his brother’s detention and death. 

    “I am devastated by the loss of my brother and by the knowledge that he was suffering so greatly in that detention center,” he said in a statement. “He did not deserve to be treated that way. I want justice for my brother, answers as to how this could have happened and accountability for those responsible for his death.” 

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    Molly McVety

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  • Critics blast Detroit police video ordinance as weak and full of exemptions – Detroit Metro Times

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    A coalition of Detroit activists is denouncing a proposed city ordinance that would require some police footage to be made public, saying the measure would still protect officers who engage in misconduct. 

    A divided Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee held a public hearing Monday on an ordinance that would set rules for how the Detroit Police Department releases video involving serious use of force, including when officers fire their weapons or cause “great bodily harm.” If approved by the full Detroit City Council, police would have up to 30 days to release video on a publicly accessible website. 

    But activists said the ordinance is riddled with exemptions that would give police plenty of opportunities to deny a video’s release. For example, the footage can be withheld if it involves a joint task force, violates the police union contract, or if city lawyers decide it could hurt Detroit in a civil lawsuit. The proposal also excludes any video shielded under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act and permits redactions, giving city officials broad discretion to decide what the public gets to see, activists argued at the meeting. 

    Jacob Smith, a member of the Detroit Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression, urged council members to strengthen the ordinance. 

    “It’s not even a good ordinance,” Smith said. “It has more holes than a fishing net.”

    He added, “Let me be clear: We do not trust you [the police] so you need to send this ordinance back to the drawing board and come up with something that allows for less loopholes.”

    Other critics said the ordinance should include alleged incidents of stop-and-frisk, racism, and sexual harassment or assault that causes less than “great bodily harm.”

    Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway, who drafted the video requirement, said she’s satisfied with the measure but acknowledged it may need to be amended. 

    “Everyone is not going to be happy with all of the ordinances we pass in the city of Detroit,” Calloway said. “I get it. But we have to start somewhere. It’s not a perfect document. Our Constitution was written in 1787 and has been amended 27 times. This is one of those documents that I do believe is ripe for amendment.”

    Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero said she doesn’t support the ordinance as it’s written and believes more public input is needed. 

    In a letter to Calloway, the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability said Calloway’s version is written to protect police and city officials, not the public’s right to know. The coalition points to the numerous exemptions in the ordinance. 

    “These stipulations make the release of imagery pointless,” the coalition wrote. “We further object to the exclusion of CPTA from any discussions in crafting this ordinance. We shared with you a well-researched, comprehensive ordinance that would have provided greater transparency in policing. Nothing of the ordinance we provided is reflected in your version.”

    Calloway, who has often cast herself as a reform-minded councilmember critical of police secrecy, claimed some of the critics aren’t happy with any changes. 

    “We just have regular, habitual complainers,” Calloway said. “I’m used to it.”

    During the public hearing, former Detroit Police Commissioner William Davis said the ordinance “can and should be stronger,” noting that police released body-cam footage of a shooting to commissioners “in less than six hours” about five years ago. Davis also worries about the editing process before the video is released.

    “When they do these edits, someone impartial needs to be in the room,” Davis said. “This still makes it easier for them to cover up and hide stuff. We could do a better job.”

    Victoria Camille, who is running for a seat on the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, said Detroit residents are entitled to unedited footage. 

    “Police video footage belongs to Detroiters as taxpayers, and the police department should not get a privileged seat to shape a narrative in advance of the public getting a full view of the unedited video,” Camille said. “It’s one thing to blur the faces of witnesses, but chopping up timelines and/or reducing the frame that it shows is unacceptable.”

    She added, “We’ve had three people shot by DPD in the last month. This is extremely important.”

    On Sunday, Detroit police shot a woman who refused to comply after a traffic stop. It was the third police-involved shooting in five weeks. 

    Deputy Police Chief Michael Parish responded to critics, saying the videos would only be edited to redact the faces of victims or witnesses.   

    Community activist Tahira Ahmad said 30 days is too long for the release of a video. She is also worried that more Black residents will be targeted as the police department hires more white suburban officers. 

    “We’ve seen the police department get whiter and whiter,” Ahmad said. “The people who are white are having a racial problem with Black people. If our police departments are getting more and more undiverse, then we are going to have problems, and we want you to release it faster than 30 days.”

    The CPTA’s version of the ordinance would require the city to publicly release all unedited video, audio, and police reports related to any use of force or pursuit that causes or could cause injury within seven days. The city also could delay for up to 30 days, but only if prosecutors or investigators give a written public explanation citing specific legal reasons. The footage would remain permanently accessible on a website managed by the Board of Police Commissioners, not the police department. 

    In addition, the coalition’s proposal would require notifying families and allowing them to view the footage before it’s released to the public. 

    “The people of the City have an undeniable, and in some cases paramount, interest in being informed, in a timely fashion based on the most accurate information possible, about how their police department conducts its business, especially where the use of force by the police results in death of, or bodily harm to, a civilian,” the coalition wrote. 

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  • Triumph Church and Detroit mayoral candidate Kinloch accused of illegal property deal involving old theater site – Detroit Metro Times

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    A new lawsuit alleges that Triumph Church and its pastor, the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., who is a candidate for Detroit mayor, violated state and federal laws after the church purchased the former AMC Star Southfield theater site in Southfield.

    The church later conveyed that property to a private limited liability company “controlled exclusively” by Kinloch, according to the lawsuit filed by Highland Park activist Robert Davis in Oakland County Circuit Court on Tuesday. 

    Davis is asking a judge to force the Oakland County Register of Deeds and Equalization Department to release unredacted public records related to the property in Southfield. Davis contends those records, which the county refused to disclose without redactions, could shed light on whether Triumph Church or Kinloch violated state and federal laws.

    The county redacted the purchase price and transfer tax. 

    “This lawsuit is necessary to expose the full extent of what I believe to be unlawful conduct by Triumph Church and its senior pastor, Solomon Kinloch Jr.,” Davis wrote in the complaint. 

    Federal law prohibits religious nonprofits from using tax-exempt resources to enrich insiders. Michigan’s Nonprofit Corporations Act also requires nonprofit officers to act in the best interests of the organizations and avoid conflicts of interest. 

    Triumph Church, which has more than 40,000 members and seven locations, including two in Detroit with long-delinquent water bills, bought the theater location in 2024, according to real estate records. Two years earlier, Kinloch said Triumph was trying to purchase the property to convert into a church, community space, and a resource center for people in need, Crain’s Detroit reported in 2022. Kinloch said construction would begin in 2023 and take about 18 to 24 months to finish.

    For unknown reasons, that never happened. It’s also unclear why the church would convey the property to an LLC, which would be required to pay taxes.

    Triumph Church declined to answer specific questions about the purchase, including how much the church paid for the property and why it was conveyed to Kinloch. The church also would not say how much Kinloch’s LLC paid Triumph for the property.  

    “We have no response to the continued false allegations and frivolous actions of Robert Davis,” Triumph Church’s Chief of Staff Ralph Godbee, the former Detroit police chief, said in a statement to Metro Times. “They are meritless and simply not true.”

    The site has been vacant since AMC shut down the theater during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

    According to the complaint, Davis filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking deeds, purchase documents, and property tax records from Oakland County, but the county’s Register of Deeds and Equalization Department refused to release the information. He is now asking the court to order the release of those records.

    “The requested documents will demonstrate whether Triumph Church’s property purchase was lawful and consistent with its tax-exempt purpose,” the lawsuit states. 

    Federal law prohibits religious nonprofits from using tax-exempt resources to enrich insiders. And the Michigan’s Nonprofit Corporation Act requires nonprofit officers to act in the best interests of the organization and avoid conflicts of interest.

    Kinloch, who finished second in Detroit’s August mayoral primary, will face City Council President Mary Sheffield in the November general election. He has made his leadership of Triumph Church a central theme of his campaign.

    But his mayoral run has also shed some unwanted light on Kinloch and his church. Triumph’s two Detroit churches recently owed nearly $30,000 in delinquent water bills. 

    Davis has also filed county, state, and federal complaints against the church and Kinloch over his $1.3 million home in Oakland Township. Triumph Church bought the 5,177-square-foot house in April 2013 for $841,600, financing the purchase with a $631,200 mortgage, which Kinloch signed on behalf of the church, according to the deed and mortgage records. That left roughly $210,000 to be covered in cash.

    Nine months later, in January 2014, the church sold the property to Kinloch for the same price, and he also financed his purchase with a $631,200 mortgage, leaving $210,000 to be paid in advance, according to deeds and mortgage records. Triumph Church officials declined to say who paid the remaining $210,000 when Kinloch acquired the house. 

    In late July, the Detroit Free Press reported that Kinloch pleaded guilty to assaulting his first wife after threatening her with a butcher knife and beating her with its handle, according to police.

    Kinloch has also faced questions about residency. For most of the past three decades, Kinloch has lived in Oakland County. In March 2024, he registered to vote in Detroit and moved into a downtown condo with his brother, Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch. He said he later relocated to another apartment in the same complex in the Greektown area.

    In the latest case, Davis contends Triumph Church is trying to keep the property records from being disclosed. 

    “Triumph Church is seeking to keep the purchase price a secret because they fraudulently conveyed this property” to an LLC controlled by Kinloch, Davis said. Metro Times could not immediately reach Oakland County officials for comment.


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    Steve Neavling

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  • Court rules that the government can hide its own report on CIA torture

    Court rules that the government can hide its own report on CIA torture

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    The government investigated itself—and you’re not allowed to see the results. On Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) doesn’t apply to the Senate’s 2012 report on CIA torture programs. The decision blocks off an avenue to find out what’s in the 6,700-page paper, which the CIA has fought to keep under wraps for more than a decade.

    The ruling comes after a small victory for transparency. On Friday, defense lawyers at the Guantanamo Bay military tribunal were allowed to release a photo of their defendant handcuffed and nude at a CIA black site in 2004. Defense lawyers have mentioned the existence of disturbing photos from black sites, but because almost all evidence at the Guantanamo trials is classified, they have never been able to release these photos to the public.

    Over the weekend, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin canceled military prosecutors’ controversial plea deal for three accused Al Qaeda members. Their cases may go to trial—which would allow lawyers to uncover more evidence related to the CIA torture program.

    The Senate investigation had been prompted by past CIA attempts to cover its tracks. After learning that the CIA had destroyed tapes of prisoners being tortured, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence began an investigation into the CIA’s entire interrogation program. (CIA officer Gina Haspel, who helped destroy the tapes and had personally watched torture sessions, later became CIA director during the Trump administration.)

    By 2012, staffers had dug up reams of evidence on CIA malfeasance. They reported not only the specific torture methods, but also that the CIA had tortured innocent people (including a mentally challenged man and two of the agency’s own informants), that CIA leaders had lied to the public and Congress about the program, and that much of the intelligence gained under torture was useless or worse.

    For example, the false reports linking Iraq to Al Qaeda, ultimately used to justify the Iraq War, may have come from a tortured prisoner, according to the Senate report. Another prisoner, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, was tortured into making a false terrorism confession. The military held Slahi at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years before unceremoniously releasing him. FBI agent Ali Soufan—whose memoir the CIA also fought to keep secret—alleges that the CIA refused to believe a real confession warning about a real plot in 2002 because it wasn’t extracted under torture.

    After the Senate committee finished its investigation, the CIA pushed hard to stop the results from seeing the light of day, arguing that the details must stay classified for national security reasons. When a Senate staffer locked up one incriminating document in a committee safe, fearing that the CIA would destroy it, the CIA proved his fears right by hacking into the Senate’s computer network.

    The Senate was finally allowed to publish a 525-page summary of its findings in 2014, but the details remain classified to this day. Even some pseudonyms of CIA officers and code names for countries were censored in the declassified summary, making it impossible to piece together a coherent timeline of many events.

    City University of New York law professor Douglas Cox tried a different route: a FOIA request. Although FOIA doesn’t apply to the Senate, it does apply to the executive branch. Luckily for Cox, the Senate committee had provided copies of the reports to different executive agencies, including the FBI, Department of Justice, Department of Defense, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Department of State.

    Cox asked all of those agencies for their copy in December 2016. The Department of Justice argued that, even if it possessed a copy of the report, the document still belonged to the Senate, so FOIA didn’t apply. In June 2017, the Trump administration asked several of the agencies to return their copies to the Senate committee, hoping to prevent this kind of disclosure. Cox decided to sue, alleging that the administration was violating FOIA.

    The case dragged on through years of appeals, and the Biden administration continued to fight Cox in court to keep details of CIA torture hidden. This week, a panel of three judges for the 2nd Circuit upheld the administration’s argument. The Senate “manifested a clear intent to control the report at the time of its creation, and because the Committee’s subsequent acts did not vitiate that intent, the report constitutes a congressional record not subject to FOIA,” the judges wrote.

    The Senate committee had disagreed on what to do with the report. Late committee chair Dianne Feinstein (D–Calif.) wrote that the report “should be made available within the CIA and other components of the Executive Branch for use as broadly as appropriate to help make sure that this experience is never repeated.” But then-ranking member Richard Burr (R–N.C.) called the report a “highly classified and committee sensitive document” that “should not be entered into any executive branch system of records.”

    Feinstein’s statement was “ambiguous over who retains full power over the ultimate disposition of the report,” and “does not clearly address whether the report may be disseminated outside of the Executive Branch to, for example, the public,” Judge William Nardini stated in the Monday ruling. So the torture report is still legally a Senate document, outside of FOIA.

    Of course, nothing is stopping the Senate itself from releasing more of the torture report. But ordinary citizens apparently don’t have a right to sue for its disclosure. For now, that decision will have to be a political one.

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    Matthew Petti

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  • Every TV Show Astronauts Can Watch on the ISS Right Now

    Every TV Show Astronauts Can Watch on the ISS Right Now

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    Astronauts on board the International Space Station have a lot of serious business to handle each day. But even astronauts need time for rest and relaxation. And if they like, they can watch a movie or TV show. What’s the selection like 250 feet above the Earth? Surprisingly good, if you can believe it.

    Way back in 2016, Gizmodo submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to NASA for the movies and TV shows that were available to watch on the ISS. The list was a fascinating little peek into life for astronauts when they’ve got some downtime. So we recently decided to submit a new FOIA request to learn what new movies and TV shows may be streaming up there.

    Today, we’re starting with just the list of TV shows. What’s new? A lot, as it turns out. There are, of course, space-themed shows like Hulu’s The First with Sean Penn from 2018, the critically acclaimed alt-history drama For All Mankind, and the Trump-era comedy Space Force. Other new series include Book of Bobba Fett, The Crown, and the cooking show Chopped.

    Other sci-fi series include Andor, Star Trek Discovery, Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica. But there are also plenty of Earth-bound sitcoms from the past few decades like Friends, Young Sheldon, How I Met Your Mother, and Big Bang Theory. Astronauts also can watch HBO shows like Westworld, True Detective, and Game of Thrones, among others.

    The ISS also has Apple shows like Succession, Netflix shows like Stranger Things, and Disney+ shows like Loki. Typically, the shows appear to have most seasons that have been released, but there are a few exceptions. For example, the ISS is loaded with seasons one, two, and four of Mr. Robot. Where’s season three? That part isn’t clear.

    There are also documentary series like When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions from 2008, From the Earth to the Moon from 1998, and The Last Days of World War II from 2005.

    Here’s the complete list of TV shows available for astronauts to watch on the ISS:

    • 1883 (Season 1)
    • The Americans (Seasons 1‐4)
    • Among the Stars
    • Andor (Season 1)
    • Arrested Development (Seasons 1-3)
    • A Series of Unfortunate Events (Seasons 1-3)
    • Band of Brothers
    • Banff Film Festival World Tour
    • Battlestar Galactica (Seasons 1-4)
    • Better Call Saul (Seasons 1-6)
    • Big Bang Theory (Seasons 1-8)
    • Big Little Lies (Seasons 1-2)
    • Blackadder (Seasons 1‐4)
    • Breaking Bad (Seasons 1-6)
    • Cosmos
    • Chopped (Season 51)
    • The Chosen (Seasons 1 ‐3)
    • Countdown: Inspiration 4 Mission to Space
    • The Crown (Seasons 1-4)
    • Deadwood (Seasons 1-3)
    • Dead to Me (Seasons 1-2)
    • The Expanse (Seasons 1‐6)
    • Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Season 1)
    • Firefly
    • The First (Season 1)
    • Fixer Upper (Seasons 1‐5)
    • For All Mankind (Seasons 1‐3)
    • Friends (Seasons 6‐10)
    • Friends the Reunion
    • Friday Night Lights (Seasons 1‐5)
    • From the Earth to the Moon
    • Game of Thrones (Seasons 1-8)
    • Godless (Season 1)
    • The Handmaid’s Tale (Seasons 1-2)
    • House of the Dragon (Season 1)
    • How I Became Russian
    • How I Met Your Mother (Seasons 1‐8)
    • Jack Ryan (Seasons 1-2)
    • Kaamelott
    • Killing Eve (Seasons 1‐3)
    • The Last Dance
    • The Last Days of World War II
    • Le Bureau
    • Loki (Season 1)
    • Lonesome Dove
    • Longmire (Seasons 1‐6)
    • The Lord of the Rings the Rings of Power (Season 1)
    • Lost in Space (Seasons 1-2)
    • The Mandalorian (Seasons 1-2)
    • Modern Family (Seasons 1-11)
    • Mr. Robot (Seasons 1-2, 4)
    • The Office (Seasons 1-9)
    • Parks and Recreation (Seasons 1-7)
    • Peaky Blinders (Season 1)
    • The Queen’s Gambit
    • ReelRock
    • The Right Stuff (Season 1)
    • Schtt’s Creek (Seasons 3-6)
    • Seinfeld (Season 1‐9)
    • Severance (Season 1)
    • Shackleton
    • Sherlock (Seasons 1‐3)
    • Silicon Valley (Season 1‐6)
    • Space Force (Season 1-2)
    • Squid Game (Season 1)
    • Star Trek Discovery (Seasons 1‐3)
    • Star Trek Picard
    • Stranger Things (Seasons 1‐4)
    • Succession (Season 2)
    • Ted Lasso (Seasons 1‐3)
    • The Book of Boba Fett (Season 1)
    • The Terror
    • The Witcher (Seasons 1-2)
    • True Detective (Season 1)
    • Wandavision (Season 1)
    • Watchmen (Season 1)
    • Westworld (Seasons 1‐3)
    • When We Left The Earth
    • Yellowstone (Seasons 1‐4)
    • Young Sheldon (Season 6)

    Do you spot anything notable? Anything you think would be funny to watch in space, for one reason or another? Stay tuned as we check out the enormous collection of movies that astronauts can watch on the ISS.

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    Matt Novak

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  • HUD refuses to release Secretary Marcia Fudge's email address in response to ‘Reason’ FOIA request

    HUD refuses to release Secretary Marcia Fudge's email address in response to ‘Reason’ FOIA request

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    Want to know Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge’s government email address? Too bad, it’s a secret.

    In response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Reason, HUD released a list of email addresses for all political appointees—with two exceptions. The agency redacted HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge and Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman’s addresses, citing an exemption from releasing any records that would “constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

    “The interest of the general public in reviewing those portions of government documents does not outweigh the individuals’ right to privacy,” Sandra Wright, the chief of HUD’s FOIA office, wrote.

    The withholdings are an unusual and concerning attempt to conceal one of the most basic pieces of information about a public servant: their contact info.

    Glancing at the consistent format of every other address on the HUD list, one could make a reasonable assumption about Fudge’s address, but one would likely be wrong. You see, cabinet members and high-ranking officials often use pseudonymous or alias email accounts.

    For example, while he was vice president, Joe Biden used at least three pseudonyms—”Robin Ware,” “Robert L. Peters,” and “JRB Ware”—on emails that mixed family and government business.

    The practice has been fairly widespread since the Clinton administration. Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Lisa Jackson used the alias “Richard Windsor” and her private email address in communications with lobbyists. Former Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch also used alias email addresses. Trump-Era EPA administrator Scott Pruitt had four government email addresses.

    Administrations have defended using alternate email addresses as necessary for high-level political appointees because of the flood of emails to their public inboxes. However, the practice worries transparency advocates and watchdog groups because it creates doubts over whether FOIA offices are performing complete searches, and whether communications are being properly archived.

    Reason was curious about what pseudonyms high-ranking Biden officials are using, so we filed FOIA requests in September of last year to cabinet-level agencies requesting the email addresses for all political appointees, including pseudonyms. To its credit, HUD is the only agency so far that has produced any documents.

    Reason is filing a FOIA appeal to challenge the redactions. While officials may argue they need a secret inbox to get work done, convenience is not a factor in the balancing test between the public’s right to know and the privacy interests of government employees. Notably, HUD does not consider the release of dozens of other political appointees’ email addresses a privacy concern.

    HUD’s position is also undermined by the fact that other agencies have turned over similar records in response to FOIA requests. The Health and Human Services Department released former Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ secret email address to the Associated Press in 2013.

    HUD’s public affairs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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    C.J. Ciaramella

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  • GovQA’s Flexible Records Fulfillment Technologies Can Help Maryland Agencies Prepare for Proposed Body Camera Legislation

    GovQA’s Flexible Records Fulfillment Technologies Can Help Maryland Agencies Prepare for Proposed Body Camera Legislation

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    Upcoming webinar demonstrates how automation can help agencies take a proactive approach to managing all types of public records requests

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jul 9, 2021


    FORT WASHINGTON, Md., July 9, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Maryland joins the growing list of states across the country which have passed legislation to equip officers in all of its police departments with body cameras—and are struggling with the subsequent cost of storing, reviewing and releasing footage, according to GovQA. GovQA’s Public Records Request Management software handles more Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for state and local governments than any other software provider, including body camera video redaction via Veritone Redact integration.

    “The biggest challenge with mandating a body camera for every Maryland police officer by 2025 will be the resources needed to comply with the sheer volume and complexity of the information that needs to be reviewed, redacted and approved prior to release,” said Jennifer Snyder, chief evangelist at GovQA.

    A GovQA representative will be on hand at the National Association of Counties (NACo)’s 2021 Annual Conference & Exposition (#NACoANN) in Prince George’s County, Maryland, to answer questions about the company’s automated public records request fulfillment solutions at booth #117.

    Requirements for body cameras within law enforcement agencies are rapidly growing. It is estimated that the number of law enforcement agencies to adopt body camera programs more than doubled between 2013 and 2018 in the United States.

    GovQA, along with Veritone and other important technology partners, will offer a free webinar on Aug. 24, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. EDT to demonstrate how public safety agencies can take a proactive approach to automating their public records management process, and redact requested audio/video files, while staying compliant in a secure cloud environment. Advance registration is recommended.

    The webinar is open to (and information presented will apply to) participants in all 50 states. The webinar is particularly relevant for agencies in Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine that have recently passed or have pending police reform legislation that directly impacts public records/FOIA.

    GovQA is the only SaaS-based, public records management platform capable of secure, end-to-end public records disclosure workflows for any document type including electronic documents, videos and audio files. Through its strategic relationship with Veritone, creator of the world‘s first operating system for artificial intelligence, aiWARE™, GovQA customers are able to automate the redaction of sensitive information within video and audio-based evidence up to 90% faster than manual methods.

    “Police departments that proactively prepare for the state’s body camera mandate will fare much better than those who do not,” Snyder said. Visit GovQA.com or contact us here to learn more.

    About GovQA

    GovQA is the largest provider of cloud-based SaaS automated workflow solutions for government compliance. Customers use GovQA software to more easily process and manage public records and information requests from citizens, the media, and other government offices. With 20 years’ experience, GovQA combines trusted tools and security, proven government expertise, and a scalable platform that enables cities, counties, and state agencies to securely collect and control time-sensitive information within, across, and outside governments. Visit www.govqa.com for more information.

    Media Contact:

    Patrick McLaughlin, Markit Strategies & PR for GovQA

    patrickm@markitstrategies.com

    734-255-6466

    Source: GovQA

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  • Pandemic Drives Up Public Records Request Volumes While Growing Complexity Impacts Processing Time, Says New GovQA PiPRIndex Data

    Pandemic Drives Up Public Records Request Volumes While Growing Complexity Impacts Processing Time, Says New GovQA PiPRIndex Data

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    First-quarter data can help state, local governments build business case for American Rescue Plan Act funding

    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 27, 2021


    WOODRIDGE, Ill., May 27, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The unprecedented events of 2020, such as the pandemic and civil unrest, are increasing the volume of public records requests and are sending processing times higher because of the complexity of audio, video and other large files. That’s according to the first quarter 2021 Peers in Public Records (PiPR) Index from GovQA, the only index that tracks state and local public records trends.

    “Agencies are receiving requests for COVID data and information about crisis planning and processes, and the types of requests are becoming more complex for health departments, law enforcement/public safety agencies, and others,” said Jennifer Snyder, chief evangelist at GovQA. “In addition, the scramble to remote work during the pandemic led to inaccessible, non-digitized records, increasing time to release.”

    The first quarter 2021 Index shows public records request volumes increased by 35% in the past year, with the total time an average agency spends processing requests skyrocketing by 286% in the same time period. Particularly notable were increases in file size, up 25% in the past quarter and 333% since the Index launched in 2018–mainly due to growing demand for larger files such as audio and video data. These trends are just some of the data points that make up the PiPRIndex’s quarterly measure of complexity.

    “The trends identified in the PiPRIndex can help state and local government agency leadership make decisions regarding budgeting, staffing levels, and technology investments, especially as they document the business case for using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for new records management technologies,” said Snyder.

    How the PiPRIndex Works

    GovQA is the leading provider of cloud-based automated workflow (SaaS) software for governments and is singularly positioned to provide actionable data for the public records industry. The company serves over 110 of the largest 300 U.S. cities, 45 percent of top U.S. counties, and more than 80 state agencies.

    To create the PiPRIndex, GovQA identified approximately 240 member agencies representing the most common records request experiences across the nation. Member organizations include 25% state agencies, 20% counties, and 55% cities. The PiPRIndex quantifies changes in complexity of public records from “peers” across the U.S. on a quarterly basis and is adjusted for volume.

    GovQA’s PiPRIndex tracks two dimensions of complexity: records and activities. Records complexity includes elements such as the quantity and size of response documents or files, and the type of file, with special focus on video and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) files. Activities complexity includes markers for average user interactions, clarification emails and total time spent to complete a record request.

    Records Complexity and Volume Are Growing

    Government agencies have been facing steady growth in the complexity of public records requests, even prior to 2020. As the public becomes more aware of the availability and usefulness of public records, new requesters are entering the system at a higher rate than ever before. Requests range from emails and texts to video from dash, body-worn and 24/7 stationary cameras.

    “Given the increased awareness of public records accessibility, the media gathering data for 24-hour news cycles, and the increase in successful litigation in compliance lawsuits, this complexity trend is likely to continue,” said Snyder.

    Agencies needing assistance with securing ARPA funding to help solve the challenges of public records complexity exacerbated by the events of 2020 are encouraged to sign up for GovQA’s eCourse series, ARPA Implications for Public Records on GovQA’s ARPA Funding Hub where visitors can also access funding request letter and email templates.

    About GovQA

    GovQA is the leading provider of cloud-based SaaS automated workflow solutions for government compliance. Customers use our software to more easily process and manage public records and information requests. GovQA combines trusted tools and security, proven government expertise, and a scalable platform that enables cities, counties, and state agencies to securely collect and control time-sensitive information. GovQA’s proprietary Peers in Public Records (PiPR) Index is the only index that tracks trends in public records for state and local governments.

    Media Contact:

    Patrick McLaughlin

    patrickm@markitstrategies.com

    734-255-6466

    Source: GovQA

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  • GovQA Technology Solutions Tackle Growing Demand for Body Camera Video in Wake of New Illinois Legislation

    GovQA Technology Solutions Tackle Growing Demand for Body Camera Video in Wake of New Illinois Legislation

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    Webinar on May 19 demonstrates how automation can help agencies take a proactive approach to managing all types of public records requests

    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 12, 2021


    WOODRIDGE, Ill., May 12, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    New legislation in Illinois is driving dramatic changes for state law enforcement, with the potential to stretch already-limited budgets of agencies as they comply with the mandates, according to GovQA. As part of a criminal justice reform bill recently signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, every police officer in the state will be required to wear a body camera by 2025.

    “Mandating a body camera for every Illinois police officer will substantially increase the amount of available video footage as well as the volume of public requests for the footage,” said Jennifer Snyder, chief evangelist at GovQA. “The biggest challenges are the sheer volume and complexity of information that needs to be reviewed, redacted and approved prior to release—and the resources needed to comply.”

    Snyder cited a recent California case in which public safety agencies found themselves unable to recover the costs of video redaction. “Police departments that proactively prepare for the state’s body camera mandate will fare much better than those who do not,” she said.

    GovQA, along with Veritone and other important technology partners, will offer a free webinar on May 19 at 1:00 p.m. CST to demonstrate how Illinois public safety agencies can take a proactive approach to automating their public records management process, and redact requested audio/video files, while staying compliant in a secure cloud environment. The webinar is open to (and information presented will apply to) participants in all 50 states. Advance registration is recommended.

    GovQA is the only SaaS-based, public records management platform capable of secure, end-to-end public records disclosure workflows for any document type including electronic documents, videos and audio files. Through its strategic relationship with Veritone, creator of the world‘s first operating system for artificial intelligence, aiWARE™, GovQA customers are able to automate the redaction of sensitive information within video and audio-based evidence up to 90 percent faster than manual methods.

    “GovQA has a proven track record for providing flexible software solutions that help state and local agencies comply with changing public records laws, fulfill the release of public records at a reduced cost, and address the growing demand for accountability,” said Snyder. Visit  www.govqa.com to learn more.

    About GovQA
    GovQA is the largest provider of cloud-based SaaS automated workflow solutions for government compliance. Customers use GovQA software to more easily process and manage public records and information requests from citizens, the media, and other government offices. With 20 years’ experience, GovQA combines trusted tools and security, proven government expertise, and a scalable platform that enables cities, counties, and state agencies to securely collect and control time-sensitive information within, across, and outside governments. Visit www.govqa.com for more information.

    Media Contact:
    Patrick McLaughlin
    patrickm@markitstrategies.com

    Source: GovQA

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  • GovQA Applauds Unsung Heroes During Public Service Recognition Week (May 2-8)

    GovQA Applauds Unsung Heroes During Public Service Recognition Week (May 2-8)

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Apr 28, 2021


    WOODRIDGE, Ill., April 28, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    GovQA, the largest provider of cloud-based SaaS automated workflow solutions for government compliance, applauds police and fire departments, city and township halls, county and state offices and military and other facilities during Public Service Recognition Week (May 2-8)—especially the unsung heroes who keep us informed in uncertain times.

    The president and Congress designated the first full week in May as Public Service Recognition Week in 1985 to honor the men and women who dedicate their lives to serving the public.

    Nearly every government agency responds to requests for information contained in public records. Since the pandemic started, those working in law enforcement, public safety agencies, and health departments have seen exponential growth in the volume and complexity of requests for information and public records.

    “While it’s not any agency’s primary mission, dedicated public servants at each organization work hard to keep citizens, the media, and other governments informed and themselves accountable,” said Jennifer Snyder, chief evangelist at GovQA.

    This year municipalities across the nation using GovQA software have responded to nearly a half million requests for information—and the number is projected to grow. According to GovQA’s Peers in Public Records (PiPR) Index, which tracks state and local public records trends, request volumes increased by 21% from June to December 2020. As requests become more voluminous and complex, the total time an average agency spends processing requests has skyrocketed, from an average of 438 hours in the second quarter to more than 2,100 by year’s end (a 388% increase). Demand for larger files, such as audio and video data, has increased substantially.

    Many state and local agencies across the nation invest in technologies that allow them to better manage the volume of records requests while becoming more efficient, saving tax dollars and freeing up staff to work on other important business. GovQA’s cloud-based, secure public records (FOIA) software promotes efficiencies by reducing repetitive work, limiting errors, streamlining collaboration and improving customer service.

    “Recognizing public service employees is especially important this year as public service employees have had to scale many barriers to keep communities informed and functioning during the pandemic,” said Snyder. “GovQA salutes these unsung heroes.”

    About GovQA
    GovQA is the largest provider of cloud-based SaaS automated workflow solutions for government compliance. Its Public Records Request Management software handles more Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for state and local governments than any other software provider. With 20 years’ experience in advanced technology for government agencies, GovQA combines trusted tools and security, proven government expertise, and a scalable platform that enables cities, counties, and state agencies to securely collect and control time-sensitive information within, across, and outside governments. GovQA’s proprietary Peers in Public Records (PiPR) Index is the only index that tracks trends in public records for state and local governments. Visit www.govqa.com for more information.

    Media Contact:
    Patrick McLaughlin
    patrickm@markitstrategies.com
    734-255-6466

    Source: GovQA

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  • City of Aurora Implements GovQA Technology to Improve Efficiency of Public Records Request Process

    City of Aurora Implements GovQA Technology to Improve Efficiency of Public Records Request Process

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    Software ensures timely, secure and accurate fulfillment of requests for electronic documents, videos and audio files

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Apr 7, 2021


    AURORA, Ill., April 7, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department are making it easier for residents to request and receive public records available through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), thanks to technology modernization. The City went live with GovQA software on March 1 to more efficiently process and manage requests from citizens and the media for public records and information, such as electronic documents, videos and audio files.

    “This new technology will enhance Aurora’s commitment to open, transparent and cost-efficient delivery of exceptional customer service in fulfilling requests in accordance with Illinois law,” said Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “It is another example of how Aurora is working to enhance the quality of life through innovation, partnerships and dedicated service to the community.”

    Aurora has been steadily upgrading its processes for managing public records requests. In recent years, the City migrated from handling requests manually to automation with its first FOIA software purchase. As the volume of records requests grows and the complexity increases, Aurora looked to GovQA’s cloud-based solution for a secure, highly configurable platform that allows it to manage videos and other electronic documents while enhancing transparency and further improving efficiency.

    GovQA is the largest provider of cloud-based SaaS automated workflow solutions for government compliance. Its Public Records Request Management software handles more Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for state and local governments than any other software provider.

    Aurora’s new records request system is a centralized, secure public records portal that allows residents to track their FOIA requests online and standardizes workflows for city employees. Self-serve tools and auto-follow functions make it easy to proactively share information. And an improved intake form refines requests, reducing the need for clarification and delivering improved accuracy. The new system also provides an accurate and efficient process to securely review and release video and other electronic records, protecting personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive data.

    “The portal is user-friendly for our citizens and we have better insight into the request’s workflow,” said City Clerk Jennifer Stallings. FOIA Specialist Sarah Walsh agrees, adding that the new system reduces the amount of paperwork and frees up time to work on other important city business.

    Aurora has taken significant steps in the past few years to improve its technology infrastructure and implement innovative solutions to improve the lives of citizens, including expansion of the city’s fiber-optic network and attracting major technology companies to the city.

    “We commend the City of Aurora for its commitment to provide its citizens with easy and efficient solutions to manage document requests from the public,” said Matt Eckstein, senior implementation engineer for GovQA.

    The new public records portal can be accessed through the Aurora website by clicking “I Want To…” and choosing Submit a FOIA Request.

    Media Contacts:

    Aurora: Clayton Muhammad, cmuhammad@aurora-il.org, 630-774-9306

    GovQA: Patrick McLaughlin, patrickm@markitstrategies.com, 734-255-6466

    Source: GovQA

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