OPR FOIA

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OPR adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of accomplishing its mission while also taking precautions to ensure the safety of our staff.  As a result, responses to FOIA requests that are physically mailed will likely be delayed because OPR's FOIA staff is currently working remotely and will access physical mail on a very limited basis.  We strongly encourage you to submit your request electronically as this is the most efficient method at this time.  If you have any questions about your request, you may reach out to our FOIA Requester Service Center or FOIA Public Liaison at the numbers below or email us at OPR.FOIA@usdoj.gov.  We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

FOIA Contact:

How to Make a FOIA Request:

1.  Before submitting your request, make sure that you are seeking the kind of records and information maintained by OPR.  OPR maintains records relating to its investigations of allegations of misconduct by Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys that relate to the exercise of their authority to investigate, litigate or provide legal advice.  OPR also maintains records relating to investigations of allegations of misconduct by law enforcement personnel that relate to allegations of misconduct by DOJ attorneys.  Records maintained by OPR include pending investigations, closed investigations, inquiries, complaints, and records relating to the administration of OPR.

2. Your FOIA request must be in writing and must reasonably and specifically describe the records you seek.  The more specific you are, the more likely we will be able to target our search for the OPR records you seek.

3. There are three ways to submit your FOIA Request to OPR:

• Email to OPR.FOIA@usdoj.gov
• Online at FOIA.gov, the government's central website for FOIA.  Click "Start FOIA Request" and fill in the requested information.  Remember to be as specific as possible in describing the OPR records you seek.
• Mail to the above address (note that there are the operation delays in processing physically mailed FOIA requests due to COVID-19). 

Special information required to make a FOIA request:  None.   For information on submitting FOIA requests to the Department of Justice, see How to Make a FOIA Request to DOJ posted in a convenient  Q&A format.

Multitrack Processing:  FOIA requests are placed in one of three tracks. Track one is for those requests which seek and receive expedited processing pursuant to subsection (a)(6)(E) of the FOIA. The second track is for those requests which do not involve voluminous records or lengthy consultations with other entities. Track three is for those requests which involve voluminous records and for which lengthy or numerous consultations are required, or those requests which may involve sensitive records.

Publicly Available information for which a FOIA request is not required:  FOIA Library: Many OPR documents are available to the public without having to make a FOIA request.  Our FOIA library includes proactively disclosed publicly released information previously made in response to FOIA requests as well as OPR Annual Reports.

OPR Major Information Systems

Helpful FOIA Guides and Resources

DOJ FOIA Reference Guide:  This comprehensive guide to the FOIA is also a handbook for obtaining information from the Department.

DOJ FOIA Regulations:  These rules, 28 C.F.R. part 16, subpart A, detail the Department of Justice's procedures for implementing the FOIA.

FOIA Exemptions:  FOIA exempts nine categories of information from disclosure.  For an overview of the FOIA exemptions, see FOIA Exemptions Overview.  For a more detailed description of the FOIA exemptions, see the Department of Justice Guide to the FOIA.

FOIA Exclusions:  Congress excluded three discrete categories of law enforcement and national security records from the requirements of the FOIA.  See 5 U.S.C. § 552(c) (2006 & Supp. IV 2010).  OPR responses to all FOIA requests are limited to those records that are subject to the requirements of the FOIA.  This notice should not be taken as an indication that excluded records do, or do not, exist.   For more information on FOIA Exclusions, see FOIA's Three Statutory Exclusion Provisions.