MichiganRadio

Prosecutor Wins Freedom of Information Suit ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - The Michigan Department of Corrections has been ordered to pay a fine and attorney costs to the Oakland County Prosecutor's office.

Prosecutor Jessica Cooper filed a Freedom of Information Act to get a list of names of prisoners set to be paroled.

But the MDOC said it didn't have such a list. It said the parole board was reviewing prisoners' qualifications individually.

So Cooper sued, saying the state didn't honor her request. A circuit court judge agreed.

Russ Marlan is with the M-D-O-C. He says Cooper is simply seeking publicity.

"It's silly that this had to play out in court and waste everyone's time," Marlan says. "She had three of her prosecuting attorneys incourt yesterday. We had some of our lawyers and the attorney general's office folks in there. It's really ridiculous and unnecessary."

Marlan says the MDOC does release names of prisoners who have been granted parole, but not in advance.
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