Public Records request - Gigliotti / Debow case
Dear Hamilton Township (Atlantic),
This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
I would like to submit a public records request regarding the cases of Susan Gigliotti and Richard DeBow. Gigliotti and DeBow were charged with the murder of Joseph Gigliotti in Hamilton Township, NJ in 2000. Prosecutors theorized that Gigliotti convinced her lover DeBow to kill her husband Joseph, whom she was legally separated from at the time, in order to claim a life insurance policy. The two were also charged with conspiracy to murder the pregnant wife of Gigliotti's other lover Steven Ferman named Carrie. Gigliotti was sentenced in May 2002, and DeBow was sentenced in January 2003.
I would like to request the entire case file including all archival materials such as the initial 911 recording, police reports, all video/audio interrogations, crime scene photos/video, forensic evidence obtained from Susan Gigliotti & Steven Ferman's computers and any other relevant materials that are open to the public.
Yours faithfully,
Jenn Rudisill
Jenn,
The Township of Hamilton received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request on July 27, 2023. Your response is being supplied on August
2,2023.
Requested
1. 911 call recording for Gigliotti/Debow case.
2. Police Reports for same case
3. Audio/video interrogations
4. Crime Scene photos
5. Forensic evidence
Response
1. Does not exist
2. Case report file attached with redactions of personal identifying
information
3. Does not exist
4. Does not exist
5. Does not exist
Sgt. Wade Smith
1. All government records are subject to public access under the Open
Public Records Act (“OPRA”), unless specifically exempt.
2. A request for access to a government record under OPRA must be in
writing, hand-delivered, mailed, transmitted electronically, or otherwise
conveyed to the appropriate custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.g. The seven (7)
business day response time does not commence until the records custodian
receives the request form. If you submit the request form to any other
officer or employee of the Township of Hamilton, that officer or employee
must either forward the request to the appropriate custodian, or direct
you to the appropriate custodian. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.h.
3. Requestors may submit requests anonymously. If you elect not to
provide a name, address, or telephone number, or other means of contact,
the custodian is not required to respond until you reappear before the
custodian seeking a response to the original request.
4. The fees for duplication of a government record in printed form are
listed on the front of this form. We will notify you of any special
service charges or other additional charges authorized by State law or
regulation before processing your request. Payment shall be made by cash,
check or money order payable to the Township of Hamilton.
5. You may be charged a 50% or other deposit when a request for copies
exceeds $25. The Township of Hamilton custodian will contact you and
advise you of any deposit requirements. You agree to pay the balance due
upon delivery of the records. Anonymous requests in excess of $5.00
require a deposit of 100% of estimated fees.
6. Under OPRA, a custodian must deny access to a person who has been
convicted of an indictable offense in New Jersey, any other state, or the
United States, and who is seeking government records containing personal
information pertaining to the person’s victim or the victim’s family. This
includes anonymous requests for said information.
7. By law, the Township of Hamilton must notify you that it grants or
denies a request for access to government records within seven (7)
business days after the agency custodian of records receives the request.
If the record requested is not currently available or is in storage, the
custodian will advise you within seven (7) business days after receipt of
the request when the record can be made available and the estimated cost
for reproduction.
8. You may be denied access to a government record if your request
would substantially disrupt agency operations and the custodian is unable
to reach a reasonable solution with you.
9. If the Township of Hamilton is unable to comply with your request
for access to a government record, the custodian will indicate the reasons
for denial on the request form or other written correspondence and send
you a signed and dated copy.
10. Except as otherwise provided by law or by agreement with the
requester, if the agency custodian of records fails to respond to you
within seven (7) business days of receiving a request, the failure to
respond is a deemed denial of your request.
11. If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the Township of Hamilton to deny
access. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the
Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government
Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form.
You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at
PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at [1][email address], or at
their web site at [2]www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council can also answer
other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in
Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in your County.
12. Information provided on this form may be subject to disclosure under
the Open Public Records Act.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://securemail.townshipofhamilton.com...