Government Command Center 17 items
Public Records / FOIA Request Processing Checklist
Guides intake, search, review, redaction, and response for public records requests under the federal Freedom of Information Act and analogous state public records statutes.
FOIA5 U.S.C. 552State Public Records Law
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Request Intake & Logging
- Was the request date-stamped and assigned a tracking number upon receipt? *
- Does the request reasonably describe the records sought? *
- Date the request was received: *
- Was the requester's fee category (commercial, educational, media, other) determined? *
Statutory Deadlines
- Was a determination made within the statutory response period (20 business days for federal FOIA)? *
- If unusual circumstances applied, was written notice of extension (up to 10 additional days) provided? *
- Statutory response due date: *
Search & Records Location
- Was a reasonable search of all systems likely to contain responsive records conducted? *
- Were email, text, and other electronic records included in the search scope? *
- Is the search methodology documented for potential litigation? *
Exemption Review & Redaction
- Was each withheld item evaluated against the nine FOIA exemptions before redaction? *
- Was the foreseeable-harm standard applied before withholding discretionary material? *
- Were reasonably segregable non-exempt portions released after redaction? *
- Is each redaction marked with the specific exemption claimed? *
Response & Appeal Rights
- Does the written response state the disposition and the volume of records withheld? *
- Does the response advise the requester of the right to appeal a denial? *
- Does the response include contact information for the FOIA Public Liaison and OGIS dispute resolution services? *
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