DSS Discards Confidential Files In Dumpsters Without Shredding
FOX Television called DSS on practice, but denials persist

Massachusetts News--March, 2000

By Nev Moore

During the past few years there have been distant rumors, as elusive as urban legends, that there were people who obtained shocking information by picking through the dumpsters at DSS offices. After the initial smile of support for these alleged renegades, the next question to pop into the minds of most was: "You mean that DSS doesn’t shred?" Could it be possible that at 36 area DSS offices around the state, anyone could walk up to the dumpsters and take away the most sensitive and intimate details about clients’ lives? 

Evidently, this urban legend may be true. FOX investigative reports filmed a segment last month on this very issue. Apparently, none of the other press reported it.

On camera, the FOX investigator removed files at random that were scattered around the ground of the dumpster at the Plymouth DSS office. When the reporter confronted the DSS office manager, he denied that they ever disposed of client confidential records without redacting and shredding, even though the reporter was standing right in front of him showing him the paperwork. 

This is the same sort of obtuse denial that clients are met with when they try to point out untruths and inaccuracies to DSS social workers. (I call it the "blank stare"). 

The investigator then interviewed Commissioner Jeffrey Locke at his office in Boston. She also had the pile of paperwork in her hands in clear view. She stated to Mr. Locke that DSS was disposing of very sensitive material about their clients without redacting or shredding, as required by law. Locke’s first response was puzzling. He stated, "Well, it’s not like we are leaving it in the streets." As if the issue was a concern over littering. Anyway, leaving it spread all over the ground in a public place for anyone to pick up is the same as leaving it "in the streets." Mr. Locke then said to the reporter that he didn’t know what laws she thought she was referring to. She responded, "Your own laws, right here in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations," pointing out the applicable sections. 

Critics of DSS have complained that DSS social workers and supervisors have no background in, or exposure to, the laws and regulations that govern their conduct. Evidently, this problem extends to the very top. 

This is yet another DSS practice that is more than just shocking, it’s gross negligence. It illustrates the complete disregard and contempt in which they hold their clients. The damage that could be done to individuals is frightening. The addresses of children, foster parents, and social workers could fall into dangerous hands. FOX got paperwork with the address of a battered woman in-hiding on some of their paperwork. What if her ex-husband thought to search the dumpster and learned of her location? Imagine the sensitive medical or psychiatric information that could be obtained and misused against someone. Social security numbers of clients, social workers and foster parents could be obtained. Even more frightening is the thought of hostile hands getting hold of the bizarre contents of DSS case files that aren’t even true, but could be used to harass or destroy someone’s life (as DSS itself does). What if someone with a vendetta anonymously sends such information to an employer, school, or landlord? 

DSS has long claimed "confidentiality" as a shield against scrutiny or investigation, but, as with most of their practices, it is only adhered to for their convenience and protection.