Federal Bureau of Prisons
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Page
How to File & Frequently Asked Questions
How can I contact the FOIA Office at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)?
Write to:
Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Section
Office of General Counsel, Room 841
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20534
You can request FOIA information by an electronic form (may not work with
all computers).
How do I find the location of an inmate in Federal custody?
You can search for a Federal inmate online and also find information about inmate programs and services.
Where is BOP’s FOIA Reading Room,
when is it open, and how can I get into it?
Where: Federal Bureau of Prisons
500 First Street, N.W. - Seventh Floor (BOP Library)
Washington, D.C. 20534
Telephone: 202-307-3029
When: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST,
EXCEPT Federal holidays. Please call ahead for an appointment.
How:
A picture I.D. is REQUIRED for entry.
The Electronic Reading Room is part of this website, and contains frequently requested records, opinions, policy statements, staff manuals, and instructions to staff created by BOP (after November 1, 1996):
Inmates can get their central or medical files at their institution.
BOP’s Inmate Locator will give information on where an inmate is located to his/her family, victims, or witnesses. You can reach the Inmate Locator by calling (202) 307-3126.
BOP puts your FOIA request in one of two tracks, depending on your circumstances. TRACK ONE is for requests that ask for
TRACK TWO is generally for requests that need more time to process, such as:
How can a former Federal inmate obtain a copy of his/her medical records from his incarceration?
Send a written request to:
The request must specifically describe the records being sought and provide identifying data such as date of birth and register number, if known. Also, to ensure that private information is not released to anyone else, the requester must verify his/her identity either by a notarized original signature or by submitting an originally signed Form DOJ-361, Certification of Identity.
I am a college student seeking research information for a term paper. Will I have to pay for copies of the information I have requested?
Fees for processing FOIA/PA requests are authorized by Department of Justice regulations published at 28 Code of Federal Regulations Part 16. As a non-commercial requester, you will be charged only for search time that exceeds two hours and copies in excess of 100 pages. Duplication charges are $.10 per page.
I have not received all the information I requested. If I am dissatisfied with the Bureau of Prisons' determination to withhold some of this information, what can I do?
You can appeal the Bureau of Prisons' decision by submitting your complaint within 60 days to:
I am a business requester seeking Bureau of Prisons statistical reports. Can I get the requested information on a computer diskette?
Yes, if the requested reports were created after November 1, 1997. New statutory requirements contained in the 1996 Amendments to the Freedom of Information Act provide for all documents created after November 1, 1997, to be available electronically.
You can get additional FOIA information from the U.S. Department of Justice's FOIA Reference Guide.
Page updated October 1, 2001
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DESCRIPTION OF RECORDS SOUGHT
I request that a copy of the following documents/information be provided to me:
ASSESSMENT OF FEES
To help us determine your fee status, check ONE of the following requestor categories:
| an individual seeking information for personal use |
| affiliated with a private corporation and seeking information for use in the company's business |
| affiliated with an educational institution and seeking information for a scholarly purpose |
| affiliated with a noncommercial scientific institution and seeking information for a scientific purpose |
| a representative of the news media seeking information as part of a news gathering effort (if media, please identify organization you are affiliated with: ) |
EXPEDITED PROCESSING
I request expedited processing of my request and have described in detail why I believe my request warrants it:
| no compelling need exists to warrant expedited processing of this request |
| an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an individual exists |
| an urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity exists (this option available ONLY for requestors primarily engaged in disseminating information) |
Please describe your justification for expedited processing.
PAYMENT OF FEES
I am willing to pay $ or
in search, duplication, and processing fees to receive records responsive to this request. If I agree to fees,
I understand that I will be notified before fees are incurred ONLY where fees apply and are expected
to exceed the amount I've indicated.
Payment must be made via check or money order, payable to the Treasury of the United States.
FEE WAIVER/REDUCTION IN FEES
The Freedom of Information Reform Act of 1986 provides that documents are to be furnished without any charge or
at a charge reduced below the fees established if disclosure of the information is in the public interest because
it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the Government
and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requestor.
To evaluate whether the statutory standard authorizing a fee waiver or reduction has been met, we will need
additional information upon which to base our determination. If you would like to request a fee waiver, please
provide additional information as justification for a fee waiver and/or reduction in fees:
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