NH DEPT OF CORRECTIONS FOLLOWS PERSONNEL RECORDS PROCEDURES

(Concord, NH) Merrimack County Superior Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by four New Hampshire Department of Corrections Probation/Parole Officers regarding access to personnel files. The court ruled that the investigative personnel documents sought by the petitioners are not subject to disclosure.

The four Probation/Parole Officers sought injunctive relief to prevent NHDOC from destroying and/or obstructing access to personnel records.

The ruling of the court affirms that the Department of Corrections follows state statutes in the management of its personnel files.

In the decision the court pointed out “the petitioners appear to be seeking access to personnel files of the DOC generally” without justifying why these files should be disclosed.
The department’s position is that the requested personnel files contained confidential information such as personnel recruitment information and the disclosure of that information would constitute an invasion of staff privacy.

Re: Paul R. Jacques, et al v. Honorable Stephen J. Curry, Commissioner, NHDOC, et al. Merrimack – Docket no. 05-E-0168