Over the past couple of years, DSAM has filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests directed to sheriffs in order to find out how they are conducting their internal business according to the mandates of Public Act 125 known as the “Local Corrections Officer Training Act”.

The request for documents is relatively simple.  What we request are public documents relating to the training mandates set forth by Act 125 and financial documents charting how the sheriffs spend the book-in fee monies under Public Acts124 and 125 of 2003.  A large portion of the requested documents we have received contain sketchy information at best.  Some sheriffs did not reply at all.  Some sheriffs attempted to send us on a wild goose chase by telling us to get the information from other sources.  Others sent us junk papers.

On April 7, 2008, DSAM sent FOIA requests to the Sheriffs of Macomb, St. Clair, and Houghton Counties and to each of their respective Board of Commissioners.  As a result of their responses, or lack thereof, DSAM initiated a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act in Lansing Circuit Court.  The Honorable Joyce Draganchuk is presiding over the case.

So far, Houghton County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Brian McLean have now  provided us with their documents and agreed to pay their portion of DSAM’s attorney fees under the FOIA.  DSAM is still in litigation with both the Sheriffs of Macomb and St. Clair Counties and their Board of Commissioners.