- First, a request will be expedited if the lack of expedited treatment could reasonably be expected to pose a threat to someone's life or physical safety.
- Second, a request will be expedited if the information requested is urgently needed to inform the public concerning some actual or alleged federal government activity, and if it is made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information to the public.
- Third, if an individual will suffer the loss of substantial due process rights, his or her request will be expedited. A request will not normally be expedited merely because the requester is facing a court deadline in a judicial proceeding.
- Finally, a request will be expedited if the subject of the request is of widespread and exceptional media interest and the information sought involves possible questions about the government's integrity which affect public confidence. Decisions to expedite under this fourth standard are made by DOJ's Director of Public Affairs.
What happens after BOP receives my request?
BOP's FOIA Offices have access to a very limited amount of records. In fact, the vast majority of records we may immediately access are already posted on our web page. As a result, we contact the appropriate office(s) and personnel who we expect to have records responsive to your request to have them search for and forward us the records. We review every page of records prior to releasing them to you. In Fiscal Year 2022, we reviewed over 4,000,000 pages of responsive records.
How long does it take to process a request?
The time it takes to respond to each request varies depending on the complexity of the request itself and the backlog of requests already pending at the component. In some circumstances, BOP will be able to respond to a request within the standard time limit established by the FOIA, which is twenty working days, or approximately one month. In other instances there might be a longer period of time needed before the request can be handled. BOP receives thousands of requests each year. Many of these requests require a line-by-line review of hundreds or even thousands of pages of documents. Although we make every effort to respond to FOIA requests as quickly as possible, in some cases we simply cannot do so within the twenty-day time period specified in the FOIA. Ordinarily, we respond to requests in each track according to their order of receipt.
- Simple Requests. For most simple requests, we estimate it will take approximately 60 days to respond.
- Complex requests. For most complex requests, we estimate it will take up to nine months to respond.
- Requests for Contracts. Due to procedural requirements, contracts take longer to process, and we estimate it will take up to 12 months to respond.
- Requests Generating Over 500 Pages of Responsive Records. For requests on this sub-track, we estimate it will take up to 12 months to respond.
- Requests Generating Over 1,500 Pages of Responsive Records. For requests on this sub-track, we estimate it will take up to 18 months to respond.
Who should I contact if I have a question about a request I made?
You should contact the office processing your request. Please provide your FOIA request number when contacting the BOP about a current or past request.
Office Phone Number E-Mail Address Central Office 202-616-7750 BOP-OGC-EFOIA-S@BOP.GOV Southeast Region 803-637-1454 SERO-FOIA-S@BOP.GOV South Central Region 972-730-8600 SCRO-FOIA-S@BOP.GOV Western Region 209-956-9739 WXRO-FOIA-S@BOP.GOV North Central Region 913-551-1004 NCRO-FOIA-S@BOP.GOV Northeast Region 215-521-7391 NERO-FOIA-S@BOP.GOV Mid-Atlantic Region 301-317-3125 MXRO-FOIA-S@BOP.GOV Former Inmates obtaining medical records
A FOIA request must specifically describe the records being sought and provide identifying data including the former inmateâs full name, current address, date and place of birth, and register number. Also, to ensure private information is not released to anyone else, the requester must verify his/her identity by signing the authorization, which must be notarized or made under penalty of perjury. A DOJ-361 Form may be used to satisfy this requirement. Copies of the verification of identity are acceptable.
What are the fees?
There is no initial fee required to submit a FOIA request, but the FOIA does provide for the charging of certain types of fees in some instances.
BOP may charge a typical requester for the time it takes to search for and duplicate records. However, BOP does not charge typical requesters for the first two hours of search time or for the first 100 pages of duplication.
You may include a specific statement in your request limiting the amount of fees you are willing to pay. Regardless, you will not be charged for any fees amounting to $25 or less. If we estimate the total fees for processing your request will exceed $25, we will notify you in writing of the estimate and offer you an opportunity to narrow your request in order to reduce the fees, unless you have already indicated a willingness to pay fees as high as those anticipated. BOP will not continue to work on your request until you commit in writing to pay the actual or estimated total fee, designate an amount you are willing to pay, or indicate you only seek what can be provided for free (if you are a noncommercial use requester). If you agree to pay fees for a records search, be aware you may be required to pay such fees even if the search does not locate any responsive records or, if records are located, they are determined to be entirely exempt from disclosure. In some instances, we may require advance payment of estimated fees before beginning or continuing to process your request.
If I pay fees, will BOP process my request quicker?
No. BOP ordinarily processes requests in the order received.
Dissatisfied with Response
If you are dissatisfied with the Bureau of Prisons' actions regarding your FOIA request, you may:
1. Contact BOP's FOIA Public Liaison who can assist you in a variety of ways, from working with you on the scope of your request and the searches that will be done, to arranging an alternative time frame for processing your request, to providing information on the status of your request, and increasing your understanding of the request process. BOP's FOIA Public Liaison is Ms. Kara Christenson, and she can be reached at BOP-OGC-EFOIA-S@BOP.GOV or (202) 616-7750.
2. Contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information, Services, National Archives and Records Administration, Room 2510, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001; e-mail at ogis@nara.gov; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769.
After you receive the Bureau's response to your request, you may administratively appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, 441 G Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC, 20530 or you may submit an appeal through OIP's FOIAonline portal by creating an account. Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 90 days of the date of BOP's response to your request. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."
Response Format
You may request your information be provided as a hard copy or in electronic format.
Information about a current or former inmate
If the information you seek is not available on the Inmate Locator, you may submit a FOIA request. Please see How to Request Information for detailed guidance on what a request must include.
Pre-Sentencing Reports (PSR) requests
Pre-Sentencing Reports (PSRs) are drafted by and originate with the United States Probation Office (USPO). Former inmates and their attorneys seeking a copy of a PSR should contact the appropriate USPO with their request instead of filing a FOIA request with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Current inmates are not allowed to possess copies of a PSR while incarcerated.
Processing charges
Is there a charge for processing FOIA requests?
You may be charged fees in relation to your request. By submitting a request, you are agreeing to pay up to $25.00. If the estimated amount of fees is over $25.00, you will be notified of the actual or estimated amount.
Processing charges
Requests for an inmate's Penitentiary Packet should be sent to the inmate's current institution. The facility should be able to provide the requested records much more expediently than our office.
Privacy Impact AssessmentsThe BOP is responsible for ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of the information it collects on members of the public, inmates, and its own employees. These individuals have a right to expect that BOP will collect, maintain, use, and disseminate identifiable personal information only as authorized by law and as necessary to carry out agency responsibilities.
The E-Government Act of 2002 requires that Federal agencies conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) for applicable electronic information systems. The PIA process evaluates issues related to the privacy of personally identifiable information in electronic systems. Personally identifiable information is defined as information that actually identifies an individual, e.g., name, address, social security number (SSN), or identifying number or code; or other personal/sensitive information such as race, date of birth, home telephone number, personal e-mail address, etc.
PIAs are available for the following systems:
- Access Control and Visiting System (ACES / Web Visiting)
- Bureau Electronic Medical Records System (BEMR)
- Correspondence Tracking System (CTS)
- Electronic Inmate Central File System (eICF)
- Bureau Forensic Mobile Device Laboratory (Forensic Lab)
- Enterprise Resource Planning System (FPI Millennium / SAP system)
- Inmate Consolidated Education Network (ICEN)
- JIRA Service Desk Application (JSD)
- Medical Claims Adjudication System (MCA)
- BOP Vacancy and Applicant System (QuickHire / HR Automation)
- Inmate Management System (SENTRY)
- Trust Fund Accounting System (TRUFACS)
- Inmate Telephone System (TRUFONE)
- Trust Fund Network (TRUNET)
- Volunteer Contractor Information System (VCI)
- Volunteers Influencing Inmate Outcomes System (VIIOS)
- Web Visiting System (WebV)
Privacy Act Exemptions
The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a) generally provides that any person has a right-enforceable in court-of access to federal agency records in which that person is a subject, except to the extent that such records (or portions thereof) are protected from disclosure by one of ten exemptions.
5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)(5) concerns information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action proceeding. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j)(1) concerns information maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j)(2) concerns material reporting investigative efforts pertaining to the enforcement of criminal law, including efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or to apprehend criminals. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(1) concerns information classified pursuant to an Executive Order in the interest of the national defense or foreign policy. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(2) concerns investigative material compiled for law enforcement purposes, other than criminal, which did not result in the loss of a right, benefit, or privilege under federal programs or which would identify a source who furnished information pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(3) concerns material in connection with providing protective services to the U.S. President or other individual pursuant to the authority of 18 U.S.C. § 3056. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(4) concerns information required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical records. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(5) concerns investigative material compiled solely for the purpose of determining suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for federal civilian employment or for access to classified information, the disclosure of which would reveal the identity of the person who furnished information pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(6) concerns testing or examination material used to determine individual qualifications for appointment or promotion in federal government service when disclosure would compromise the testing or examination process. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(7) concerns material used to determine the potential for promotion in the armed services, the disclosure of which would reveal the identity of the person who furnished the material pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence.
Online FOIA RequestHow to Request Information
You may not need to make a FOIA request. Many records, including Program Statements and key statistics are available on the Bureau of Prisons' FOIA Records Section. If you are unable to locate the information you are looking for, please follow the guidelines below to make a FOIA request.
Preparing a FOIA Request. No specific form is required. However, requests must be in writing, reasonably describe the records you seek, and, if you are seeking records about yourself or another individual, comply with the below requirements. The "Fees for FOIA Requests" section under the FAQ tab will provide fees associated with processing FOIA requests.
Requests for Records About Yourself. You will need to verify your identity in order to protect your privacy and ensure private information about you is not disclosed inappropriately to someone else. Requests for information about yourself must include your full name, current address, date and place of birth, and, if a former or current inmate, your register number. You may fulfill this requirement by completing and signing a DOJ-361 Form Alternatively, you may provide this information and either have your signature on your request letter witnessed by a notary, or include the following statement immediately above the signature on your request letter: "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date]." If you request information about yourself and do not follow one of these procedures, your request will not be processed.
- Mail. Send your request to: FOIA/PA Section Office of General Counsel, Room 924 Federal Bureau of Prisons 320 First Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20534
- Email. Email your request to: BOP-OGC-EFOIA-S@BOP.GOV
- Via the Web Portal. Please follow the instructions below. Requests for non-public information will not be accepted for processing via the portal. Neither a DOJ-361 nor any attachments may be submitted through the portal. If you do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours, we did not receive your request.
Do not use this form if you are seeking non public information on an individual. Requests for information on an individual must be accompanied by an authorization and submitted via e-mail or mail.
If you do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours, we did not receive your request.
Electronic FOIA Request Form
