First Judicial District of 
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR

236 CITY HALL
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19107
(215) 686-254? (215) 686-4220
Website: 
DISTRICTCOURTADMINISTRATOR E~Mail: joseph.evers@courts.phila.gov

August 29, 2017

 

Austin Nolen
PO. Box 54560
Philadelphia, PA 19148

 

RE: Request for Copy of PARS Agreement
Dear Mr. Nolen:

have reviewed your appeal of the deemed denied of the Rule 509 Request set forth below, and the
following is to inform you that your appeal is denied.

Pursuant to Pa. R.- Jud. Admin. 509 and the Right to Know Law, 65 PS. 67.304, I am requesting the
following records of the F11):

1. The current agreement between the Philadelphia Police Department, Municipal Court, District
Attorney?s Office and other partners governing the Preliminary Arraignment Reporting System (PARS).

2. The current agreement governing access by immigration and Customs Enforcement to PARS.

As you know, the Right to Know Law (RTKL), 65 PS. 67.101 et seq., generally does not apply to state
and local courts, which are referenced in the RTKL as ?judicial agencies.? Rather, only financial records
?of? a judicial agency are subject to the RTKL. Section 102 of the RTKL defines ?financial records? in
pertinent part as: ?any account, voucher or contract dealing with: the receipt or disbursement of
an agency; or (ii) an agency?s acquisition, use or disposal of services, supplies, materials,
equipment or property.? 65 P.S. 67.102. The definition of public record includes financial records. Id.
The RTKL does not permit access to non-financial records of a judicial agency.

The documents you seek are not financial documents in that they reference data sharing protocols
and are. not ?account(s), voucherls) or contract(s) dealing with: the receipt or disbursement of funds
by an agency; or (ii) an agency?s acquisition, use or disposal of services, supplies, materials, equipment
or property.? See Grive v. Count}! ofCentre,'138 A.3d 88 (PA 2016).

Thankyou.

 

District Court Administrator