Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests

FOIA requests should be sent in writing via email, Fax, U.S. Mail or special carrier and should be directed to:

FOIA Officer

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

60 East Van Buren Street, 6th Floor

Chicago, IL 60605

Phone: 312-793-8550

Fax: 312-793-8422

Email: CJA.FOIA@illinois.gov

Follow-up inquiries such as the status of your request, on-site record review appointments, record duplication fees or copy contractor questions should be directed to the FOIA Officer at (312) 793-8550.

The request must clearly describe the information being sought under the Freedom of Information Act. Each request must also include full contact information for the requestor.

ICJIA will respond within five business days of receipt of the request. A five-business day extension is allowed from the original due date.

If the requested records are more than 50 pages, a fee of 15 cents per page, or less, will be charged. The requestor will be notified of the fees that will be charged before the documents are sent.

Requestors will also be given the opportunity to narrow the scope of their request if their request is unduly burdensome.

In some cases, yes. Here’s the fee breakdown:

Type of Duplication Fees (per copy):

• Black and white, (letter or legal size) paper copies, up to and including 50 copies: No Charge.

• Black and white, (letter or legal size) paper copies, in excess of 50 copies: $.15/page.

• Color copies (any paper size) or black and white copies not on letter or legal size paper: Reasonable cost of reproduction

Fees may be waived or reduced under certain circumstances. In general, the waiver or reduction of fees will be granted when it is determined to be in the public interest to do so (5 ILCS 140/6). If a fee is required, information will not be released until the fee is paid in full.

You have the right to have the denial of your request reviewed by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a).

You can file your Request for Review with the PAC by writing to:

Public Access Counselor

Office of the Attorney General

500 South 2nd Street

Springfield, Illinois 62706

Fax: 217-782-1396

E-mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us

If you choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within 60 calendar days of the date of the denial letter. Please note that you must include a copy of your original FOIA request and the denial letter when filing a Request for Review with the PAC.

You also have the right to seek judicial review of your denial by filing a lawsuit in the state circuit court.

No. Criminal history records are only available from the Illinois State Police.

No. The Authority does not maintain copies of court records. These records must be requested from the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the court proceeding occurred.