Opinion ID: 619809
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Privacy Act rulings

Text: We now turn to Mr. Jordan's arguments concerning the district court's rulings that his requests for the redacted portion of his psychological file and for the copied mail are exempt from disclosure under the Privacy Act. The BOP maintained Mr. Jordan's psychological records in its Inmate Physical and Mental Health Record System and the copies of his correspondence in its Inmate Central Records System. The magistrate judge concluded that these records were exempt from Privacy Act disclosure because, in 28 C.F.R. § 16.97(a), the BOP has declared the file systems in which they were maintained exempt from disclosure to the extent that information in [those] systems is subject to exemption pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j). Mr. Jordan claims the district court reached its conclusion based on the simple fact that the BOP has by regulation exempted from Privacy Act disclosure the file systems in which it keeps his psychological records and the copied mail. He argues that under the BOP's own regulation, the district court was required to evaluate whether those records are exempt under § 552a(j) but failed to do so. He also argues that the records are not exempt under § 552a(j). We disagree with both arguments. First, the magistrate judge explicitly considered § 552a(j), stating that because [the psychological records and copied mail] were generated during [Mr. Jordan's] incarceration in federal prison, they are subject to exemption pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j)(2), which allows agencies to exempt reports identifiable to an individual compiled at any stage of the process of enforcement of the criminal laws from arrest or indictment through release from supervision. Jordan I, 2009 WL 2913223 at  (quoting § 552a(j)(2)(C)). Thus, the magistrate judge's conclusion was not based on the mere fact that Mr. Jordan's psychological records and copied mail were contained in an exempt file system. Second, Mr. Jordan's psychological records and copied mail are exempt under § 552a(j)(2)(C) because they are identifiable to Mr. Jordan and were compiled during his incarceration. [7] Mr. Jordan argues that his psychological records and copied mail are not reports and were not compiled in the process enforcing the criminal laws, as required by § 552a(j)(2)(C). The first part of this argument is wholly conclusory, lacking any development or support for his interpretation of the word reports. The second part of this argument cannot stand in view of our FOIA conclusion that these records were compiled for law enforcement purposes. Mr. Jordan also argues that a BOP regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 513.40, permits disclosure of mail, general correspondence, and other records maintained in a prisoner's Inmate Central File, suggesting that the BOP may not withhold such items under the Privacy Act. This argument overlooks the fact that § 513.40 is permissive, not mandatory; it makes such items [d]isclosable without recourse to certain FOIA procedures. Id. The regulation further provides that [i]f any information is withheld from the inmate, staff will provide the inmate with a general description of that information and also will notify the inmate that he or she may file a FOIA request. Id. (emphasis added). Thus, § 513.40 does little to abnegate the BOP's ability to exempt mail and general correspondence maintained in its Inmate Central File under § 552a(j) and 28 C.F.R. § 16.97(a). Mr. Jordan makes a similar argument with regard to his redacted psychological records and BOP regulation 28 C.F.R. § 513.42. However, the regulation clearly permits BOP staff to withhold an inmate's medical records containing subjective evaluations of medical staff relating to the inmate's care and treatment if it determines that release would present a harm to either the inmate or other individuals. 28 C.F.R. § 513.42(c), (d). If dissatisfied with a refusal to release medical records, an inmate can initiate a formal request for the withheld documents. Id. § 513.42(d). Like § 513.40, this regulation does not limit the BOP's ability to exempt medical records contained in its Inmate Physical and Mental Health Record System under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j) and 28 C.F.R. § 16.97(a). AFFIRMED. Mr. Jordan's motion for leave to proceed on appeal without prepayment of costs or fees is granted. Mr. Jordan is reminded of his obligation to continue making monthly payments until the filing fee is paid in full.