Good morning,

NJ DCF OPRA is in receipt of the below request.

OPRA also does not require government agencies to conduct research in order to respond to a request for records, nor to create new records. MAG, 375 N.J. Super. at 546–47 (App. Div. 2005); Simmons v. Mercado, 247 N.J. 24, 44 (2021); Lagerkvist v. Office of the Governor, 443 N.J. Super. 230, 237 (App. Div. 2015) (“OPRA does not convert a custodian into a researcher.”). To respond to your request, the Department would need to engage in the extremely labor-intensive process of examining copious computer records regarding each child abuse/neglect cases in Monmouth County for the requested years to see if they were referred to CAC. This is beyond OPRA’s purview.

I can suggest that you ask CAC if they can release the data to you.

Your closing receipt is attached.

Thank you,

Allyson Mahoney, Esq.
OPRA Custodian
NJ Department of Children and Families

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this communication from the DCF’s Office of Legal Affairs is privileged and confidential. The information is advisory, consultative or deliberative in nature. This communication is intended for the sole use of the persons or entities who are the addressees. Content of this communication is not discoverable and should not be copied or placed in your records. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete this email.

-----Original Message-----
From: Bianca Sangiovanni <[OPRA #76702 email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2025 9:18 PM
To: DCF OPRA Custodian [DCF] <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Request Summary

Dear New Jersey Division of Children & Families,

Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.

I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.

I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.

I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.

Records requested:
I am requesting aggregate statistical data on the number of children in Monmouth County referred by DCPP to the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for forensic interviews in:

Calendar year 2023

Calendar year 2024 (to date)

Please further break down, if available:

The number of cases initiated by school reports

The number of cases originating in Neptune Township (or Neptune Board of Education)

Whether transport occurred without parental notice or consent

I am not requesting personally identifiable information—this is a request for statistical data only.

My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.

Yours faithfully,

Bianca Sangiovanni

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