The Freedom Of Information Act [FOIA]-What is it?

The FOIA allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the US Government. It defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure procedures and grants exemptions to the statute. The FOIA explicitly applies only to federal government agencies. States have their own versions of this law and those are outlined on the applicable state pages.

**YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION**

Agencies are allowed to charge fees related to storage, retrieval and delivery of information open to the public under the freedom of information act. Each agency has different rules and fee schedules and should be consulted directly to better understand what those are.   You will also find sponsored searches available on our site through our various partners; these are offered to you as a means of simplifying your searching as well as possibly helping you to control your costs for records retrieval.  The are offered only as a value add to the site and have no bearing on the data we offer.

EXEMPTIONS TO FOIA were created to protect national security, the public safety, personal privacy and the operational integrity of agencies and the areas they regulate.
1) Information relating to national defense/security
2) Relating solely to the internal workings of an agency
3) Any documents that may lead to the defamation of character or constitute an invasion of personal privacy
4) Trade secrets and commercial or financial information,
5) Inter and intra agency memoranda or correspondence that would not otherwise be available under the law (unless it is subpoenaed)
6) Personnel, medical or similar files that would constitute an invasion of personal privacy
7) Records of criminal investigation the release of which might interfere with the investigation or could reasonably constitute an invasion of personal privacy or reveal investigative techniques and secrets that might interfere with future investigations or endanger lives.
8) Any documents contained in or related to any form of document created for or by an agency responsible for the regulation of financial institutions that might cause instability or speculation.
9) Any type of geological and geophysical info or data including maps concerning wells.

The Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996
The Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 (E-FOIA) stated that all federal agencies are required by statute to make certain types of records, created by the agency on or after November 1, 1996, available electronically. Agencies must also provide electronic reading rooms for citizens to use to have access to records. An Agency's response time for a FOIA request can be up to 20 days under the law.

(Back To Top)

U.S. State Menu

Index Pages: