DGO director denies inmate Ajayi’s records appeal, finds statutory five-request limit applies

Director Pearson on July 30 denied an appeal by Mr. Ajayi challenging the Utah Department of Corrections’ refusal to provide additional records, finding the GRAMA statutory limit for confined individuals applied.

In a hearing at the Department of Government Records, Mr. Ajayi told the director he needed copies of safety and medical records — including ADA documentation and an incident report — to prove to the court that he is legally blind and deaf and to address safety concerns inside the facility. "They are too busy to respond to the media and other third parties, but not to provide me with records I need for my ADA accommodation," Ajayi said. UDC counsel Mr. Hanson replied that the department had already fulfilled seven requests for Ajayi in the 2026 calendar year and relied on the statutory limit to decline additional requests. "We're only required to respond to the first five requests," Hanson said, noting the department sometimes responds to more at its discretion.

After argument and rebuttal, Director Pearson said the statutory provision (as cited in the record) unambiguously relieves a government entity of the obligation to respond to records requests from a confined inmate after that inmate has submitted five requests in a calendar year. The director found the record showed UDC had already fulfilled seven requests for Mr. Ajayi in 2026 and concluded the department acted within its discretion to decline the requests at issue. "I find that the department was within its discretion to decline to respond to the request at issue here," the director stated; a written decision will follow within seven business days. The director said Mr. Ajayi may appeal to district court within 30 days.

The hearing transcript shows Mr. Ajayi raising ADA and safety concerns and contesting the department’s statutory interpretation; UDC emphasized administrative burden and resource allocation as reasons for the limit. The director’s written decision will provide the formal reasoning and statutory citations for the denial.