Freedom of Information/Privacy Act
Learn all about FBI records�including how to access previously released records and
how to request records in accordance with the Freedom of Information (FOIA) and
Privacy Acts, collectively referred to as FOIPA. Please review the information
below to assist you with understanding these records and the operations of the FBI.
Understanding FBI Records
The FBI�along with every other government agency�creates and obtains records as it
carries out its day to day operations. In the Bureau, these records generally
include investigative files, personnel files, and policy guides. A majority of
these documents are indexed in our Central Records System (CRS)�an electronic index
that allows Bureau personnel to query requested information. While the CRS contains
most of the FBI's records, some of our earliest records were not indexed, and some
records have been transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration.
Robots deposit and retrieve files at Central Records Complex in Winchester,
Virginia. The $135 million complex opened in 2020 to house FBI files.
Obtaining FBI Records
Records Available Now
A large number of FBI records are available for public review on the FBI's
electronic FOIA Library (The Vault).
Types of records that the FBI provides electronically on The Vault include, but are
not limited to:
Agency policy statements;
Administrative staff manuals and instructions;
Frequently requested records; and
Proactive disclosures.
Records on The Vault are organized alphabetically by name or topic. Users may also
locate records by browsing various categories such as civil rights,
counterterrorism, popular culture, unusual phenomenon, and violent crime.
If you would rather receive a physical copy of records that are currently available
on The Vault, you may submit a FOIA request by fax, standard mail, or through
eFOIPA, the FBI's electronic FOIPA portal. Please note that physical copies of
these records will be of the same quality as those available on The Vault.
Records Available by Request
To receive records that are not already available on The Vault, you may submit an
FOIPA request by fax, standard mail, or through eFOIPA, the FBI's recently deployed
electronic FOIPA portal. The eFOIPA system allows requesters to electronically
submit and receive correspondence regarding their FOIPA requests.
For complete information on when and how to submit an FOIPA request, please review
Requesting FBI Records.
To learn what information you will receive, how long it takes, and how to file an
appeal, please review What Happens After Making a Request.
If you have questions about preparing or submitting requests, you may e-mail
[email protected] or call our FOIA Requester Service at Center (540) 868-1535
to hear helpful recorded information.
The Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS) in the FBI Information
Management Division is responsible for the release of records under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act.
What Happens After Making a Request
How Long it Takes to Receive Information
Requests are handled in the order in which they are received according to a multi-
track system. Please remember that the FBI receives a large number of requests on a
daily basis.
Requests are divided into five different processing tracks based on the number of
pages responsive to the request:
Extra-Small processing track (50 pages or less)
Small processing track (51 to 250 pages)
Medium processing track (251 to 500 pages)
Large processing track (500 to 4,999 pages)
Extra-Large processing track (5,000 pages or more)
Requests that encompass a high volume of responsive records will take a longer time
to process than requests that encompass a small volume of responsive records.
If your request encompasses more than 250 responsive pages, an FBI representative
will contact you in an effort to reduce the fees and the processing time associated
with your request.
To check the status of an existing request, requesters are encouraged to use the
FBI�s FOIPA online status tool at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. This
tool can also be found on the FOIPA Status tab at the top of this page. Status
updates are performed on a weekly basis. The status of a closed request will be
available for six months following the date of closure.
If you have questions regarding any FBI FOIPA-related matters, please contact us at
[email protected], or contact our Public Information Office at (540) 868-4593.
If you have already submitted a request, please be prepared to provide your FOIPA
request number so that we may better assist you.
Questions about Identity History Summary Checks: The public information officer
cannot answer questions about Identity History Summary Checks (commonly called rap
sheets, background checks, police certificates, or criminal arrest records). All
requests or questions related to Identity History Summary Checks should be directed
to the FBI�s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division in Clarksburg,
West Virginia at (304) 625-2000.
Questions about Name Check Requests: The public information officer cannot answer
questions about Name Check requests. Information regarding Name Check requests can
be found on the FBI�s National Name Check Program webpage. Please note that the
National Name Check Program only accepts requests submitted by other federal
agencies; requests received from the general public will not be accepted.
What You Will Receive After FBI Processing
After records responsive to your request have been processed, you will receive the
following items:
Releasable documents
An FOIPA release letter citing the number of pages reviewed, released, and any
exemptions (Title 5, U.S. Code, Section 552/552a) that were applied during the
processing of your request. Please see the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy
Act exemptions for more information. If there were any duplication and/or
processing fees associated with your request, costs and payment instructions will
be provided to you in the letter.
Appeals
If you are not satisfied with the results of your request, you may file an appeal
by writing to the Director of the Office of Information Policy (OIP/DOJ) at the
following address:
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Information Policy
441 G Street NW, Sixth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20001
In lieu of mailing your appeal, you may submit an appeal electronically after
creating an account on OIP�s FOIA online portal.
If you submitted your request before July 1, 2016, your appeal to OIP must be
postmarked or electronically transmitted within 60 days from the date of your
letter in order to be considered timely. If you submitted your request after July
1, 2016, your appeal to OIP must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within
90 days from the date of your letter in order to be considered timely. If you are
submitting your appeal through standard mail, both the letter and envelope should
be clearly marked �Freedom of Information Act Appeal.� Please cite your FOIPA
request number so that it may be easily identified.
Note: Please do not send your appeal request directly to the FBI. Appeal requests
sent directly to the FBI will not be reviewed.
Prior to submitting an appeal to OIP, you have the option to seek dispute
resolution services by contacting the Office of Government Information Services
(OGIS) at (877) 684-6448, or by emailing [email protected]. Alternatively, you may
contact the FBI�s FOIPA public liaison by emailing [email protected]. If you
submit your dispute resolution correspondence by email, the subject heading should
clearly state �Dispute Resolution Services.� Please also cite your FOIPA request
number so that it may be easily identified.
Prepublication Review
FBI Policy on the Disclosure of Information by Current or Former Personnel
All current and former personnel* seeking to disclose FBI information outside of
their official duties must submit the material to prepublication review. This
requirement is set out in the FBI Prepublication Review Policy Guide and
Nondisclosure Agreements signed upon entering service.
The Prepublication Review Office's (PRO) mission is to engage with current and
former personnel to ensure any products created for public release are free from
prohibited disclosures that could harm FBI personnel, assets, and operations.
What Qualifies for Prepublication Review?
Any proposed public disclosure by current and former FBI personnel (oral, written,
or electronic) created in their personal capacity, outside of official duty
requirements, must be submitted. Prepublication review is required prior to
disclosures of drafts, initial manuscripts, and similar preliminary works to anyone
including non-FBI attorneys, ghost writers, co-authors, and publishers. These
products can include:
Books (fiction or nonfiction)
Newspaper and magazine articles or opinion pieces
Academic publications
Resumes, bios, and cover letters
Content appearing on websites, blogs, and social media
Speeches and public appearances
Podcasts
Scripts for any film, television, video, or theater project
The PRO will conduct a thorough review to assess whether the proposed publication
includes prohibited information. We will
advise the requester of any concerns and then work with the requester to resolve
them. Reviews can take 30 business days or longer, depending on material complexity
and length.
How to Make a Request
Submit the full text at least 30 working days in advance of the proposed
disclosure.
Provide your full name, title, and date range of service.
Attach full draft, to include tables of contents, indexes, images, or any other
information you intend to include in the final publication.
Pages and lines of the draft should be numbered (for reference) and the draft
should be unlocked and in a common document type (.doc, .pdf, etc.).
For larger bodies of work, describe the product, characters, FBI relevance, and if
there are any other federal government agencies� information within your work.
Provide resources or citations.
Submit materials by email to [email protected].
Or mail to:
Prepublication Review Office
Information Management Division
200 Constitution Drive
Winchester, VA 22602-4842
Questions?
Questions regarding prepublication? Email the Prepublication Review Office at
[email protected].
Questions regarding FOIPA requests or other record requests? Email the Public
Information Office at
[email protected].
Note: The PRO phone line will be disconnected on November 1, 2023. Please route
phone calls to the Public Information Office at (540) 868-4593.
*FBI Personnel are defined as �individuals employed by, detailed, or assigned to
the FBI, including task force officers, members, and participants; members of the
armed forces; experts and consultants to the FBI; industrial and commercial
contractors, licensees, certificate holders, or grantees of the FBI, including all
subcontractors; personal service contractors of the FBI; and any other category or
person who acts for or on behalf of the FBI, as determined by the FBI Director.�
[FBI Prepublication Review Policy Guide (1065PG)]
