NH Supreme Court reaffirms decision to give Union Leader records on YDC violence

Aug. 29—The state Supreme Court has turned down a request by the state to reconsider the court's decision that said the New Hampshire Union Leader should be entitled to at least some records relating to the State Police's response to disturbances at the Sununu Youth Services Center.

The Aug. 23 order reaffirmed the court's July 3 decision that sided with the newspaper.

"We have reviewed the claims made in the motion for reconsideration filed by the Department and Safety and conclude that no points of law or fact were overlooked or misapprehended in our decision," the unanimous ruling said.

In October and November 2022, the Union Leader requested records from the Department of Safety seeking "public records related to the State Police response" at the youth center on Oct. 7-8, "including any incident reports with confidential information redacted."

In its July 3 ruling, the court said: "It is conceivable that information in the Department's possession could answer these questions without interfering with the rehabilitation of the minors against whom juvenile petitions were filed," the decision reads.

The justices also wrote that certain records could be redacted to protect the privacy of juveniles.

Last year, a superior court judge found in favor of the state Department of Safety, which includes the State Police.

Between August and October 2022, police and emergency medical services were called to the Manchester facility 10 times, according to the state employees union, after staffers were badly hurt.

Two needed surgery after the assaults and two sustained concussions. One worker had three concussions in as many months, and several workers were bitten by youths.

During one State Police response, the employees' union said, a youth tried to grab a trooper's gun.

Three youths incarcerated at the center also have been sent to the hospital with injuries.