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Freedom of Information Request - Help

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matb12000
 
Reply Thu 13 Sep, 2007 03:32 am
I have a question about filing FOIA requests. I sent a request in to the FBI a while ago which stated, in part:

"I request access to and copies of documents pertaining to emails sent to, emails sent from, and email drafts saved from my email address [email protected] between March 19, 2003 to August 30, 2003."

The FBI Records office responded:

"This is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request concerning miscellaneous documents. The FOIA does not require federal agencies to answer inquiries, create records, conduct research, or draw conclusions concerning queried data. Rather the FOIA requires agencies to provide access to reasonably described, nonexempt records. The questions posed in the referenced letter are not FOIA requests because they do not comply with the FOIA and its regulations."

How can I phrase the question so that I get the information I'm looking for? Thanks in advance.

-M
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fishin
 
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Reply Thu 13 Sep, 2007 06:01 am
You can't. The FBI isn't going to search every record in their possession to see if it has your e-mail address on it. That isn't what FOIA is or does.

You can request copies of any files they may have on yourself or you can request copies of any known standard reports or datasets. For example, you can request copies of all robbery reports collected for their annual Criminal Statstics reporting.

If you request a copy of any records they have on yourself you will only get documents that are in a file they might have created on you. If they didn't create a file on you then they'll give you a "No requested records found" type of reply.

The thing to FOIA is, just as their reponse indicated, you have to know what you are asking for. They aren't required to dig for info - only make copies of already existing systems of records.
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