Request public records file # in illinois

The government can comply with your request, deny it or ask for more time to more fully respond. The public body is allowed to automatically extend the deadline an additional five business days but must ask your permission to extend the deadline further than that. No response from the public body is the same as a denial. If you are denied in this manner, that still means you can challenge it the same as you would a written denial.

Find how to push back in the next section! Keep notes and records names, dates, times of all communications, including phone calls, and communicate in writing as much as possible. Insist that the public body document everything in writing, state the specific FOIA exemptions being asserted, and provide a detailed factual basis for its exemption claims. Does something not make sense? If so, contact the public body, explain why you think the public body is wrong, and push back. Sometimes this works.

Second St. You can also fax your request to You can sue the government body, including the city or state, depending on the government agency from which you requested information. Tell us about your experience or ask questions. Jared Rutecki, BGA data coordinator and investigative reporter, contributed to this article. This story was updated at a.

Review, explore and compare compensation for public employees throughout Illinois. This visualization of more than 3 million criminal cases allows users to see trends over time. Follow the money paid to retired public-sector employees throughout Illinois. What is FOIA? Find the FOIA officer. Let us know! Overview The updated Illinois FOIA is a carefully worded and detailed piece of public records law, helping requesters and agencies navigate the law with precision.

To whom does this apply? Is there a designated records custodian? Who is exempted? How can requests be submitted? By mail? By email? How long do they have to respond? Does the agency have to give you a tracking number or estimated date of completion?

Can they ask why you ask? What enforcement? Are there fee waivers for media requests or those made in the public interest? Exemptions and Appeals What exemptions exist? Do they have to tell you why a portion or pages were redacted or withheld?

How much time do you have to appeal? Can you appeal the courts? Resources Organizations citizen advocacy center Illinois first amendment center Attorneys and Law Firms The following attorneys and law firms have practiced public records law.

Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Chicago Office Of Police Accountability. A request filed with the University of Illinois should include:.

Requests filed under the act, response letters, and responsive documents are themselves public records. Due to volume, requests are not acknowledged. Remember, the Freedom of Information Act is designed to allow you to inspect or receive copies of records. It does not require a public body to answer questions. All FOIA responses are logged on a public website.