How to Submit a FOIA request to gain information
It can be very difficult to know who to ask and for what. You can ask for the department's FOIA officer's contact information and use the template below.
What is the Freedom of Information Act (United States)? It is a 1967 US statute regarding access to information produced by the US government; gave individuals, including non-US citizens, rights to apply for looking into government files including those - with restrictions - of the US intelligence agencies:
FOIA
Freedom of Information Act / Public Records Request Template
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
To:
[Agency Name]
[Agency Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
Subject: Public Records Request under the Freedom of Information Act (or applicable state law)
Dear [FOIA Officer / Records Clerk / Agency Contact],
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, (or your state’s public records law, e.g., Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq.), I am requesting access to and copies of the following records:
All records, incident reports, arrest reports, investigative reports, complaint files, citations, permits, and/or correspondence related to the perpetrator, date of birth [DOB you can ask us if your need this], in your custody from [start year] to [end year].
Please include:
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Any court filings or charging documents filed by your agency
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Records of any administrative actions or licensing board decisions involving the perpetrator
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Correspondence between your agency and other law enforcement, regulatory bodies, or complainants related to the perpetrator
I request that the records be provided in electronic format (PDF or searchable digital file) and sent via email to [Your Email Address].
If any portion of the requested records is exempt from disclosure under FOIA or your state’s law, please provide all reasonably segregable portions of the records and cite the specific exemption(s) for any information withheld.
If there are fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the total cost will exceed $25.
This request is made for personal and public interest purposes, and the information will be used to help inform and protect the public.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. Under [state FOIA name], the agency has [insert statutory timeframe — often 5–10 business days] to respond.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Tips for victims using this template:
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Replace FOIA with your state’s specific open records law name.
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If you know the case number or exact dates, include them because it speeds up processing.
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Be kind - the FOIA officers are very busy.
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Keep the request focused to avoid high fees and delays.
Contact
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