U.S. Department
of Justice
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law giving the public a right to access information from the federal government. Enacted in 1966, it provides that any person has a right, enforceable in court, to access federal agency records, except to the extent that such records (or portions of them) are protected from public disclosure by certain exemptions or exclusions. The exceptions and exclusions protect classified information, individuals' privacy, confidential information used for law enforcement purposes, and trade secrets.
FOIA Customer Service Center
Anissa Hunter Banks
FOIA/PA Specialist
United States Parole Commission
90 K Street, NE, 3rd Floor
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
(202) 346-7030
FOIA Public Liaison
Helen Krapels
(202)346-7030
FOIA Request Email
Conventional Reading Room
United States Parole Commission
90 K Street, NE, Third Floor
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530
Call (202) 346-7030 for access instructions.
USPC FOIA Library
This includes frequently requested records, opinions, policy statements, and staff manuals/instructions to staff, created by the United States Parole Commission.
Component Description
The United States Parole Commission has sole authority to grant, modify, or revoke paroles of Federal offenders and is responsible for the supervision of parolees and mandatory releasees. On August 5, 2000, the Commission assumed the authority of the District of Columbia Board of Parole and now maintains files for D.C. Code prisoners who are eligible for parole. The Commission maintains records regarding its hearings and decisions for prisoners and releasees. It also maintains various administrative files.
DOJ Reference Guide
A comprehensive guide to the FOIA that serves as a handbook for obtaining information from the Department of Justice.
DOJ FOIA Regulations
The rules that detail the Department of Justice’s procedures for implementing the FOIA and the Privacy Act.
USPC FOIA Reference Guide
- Making a Freedom of Information Act Request
- Fee Schedule
- Records Maintained by the Parole Commission
- Explanation of FOIA Exemptions
- Statutory Exclusion Provisions
How long will it take before I get a response to my FOIA 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 the component will be able to respond to the request within the standard time limit established by the FOIA, which is 20 working days, or approximately one month. In other instances, there might be a longer period of time needed before the request can be handled. For example, some DOJ components, such as the FBI and DEA, receive 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 these components make every effort to respond to FOIA requests as quickly as possible, in some cases they simply cannot do so within the 20-day time period specified in the FOIA. Generally, if you make a request for a small volume of material, the component will be able to process the request more quickly as a “simple” request.
When a component needs an extension of time to respond to your request, it will notify you in writing and offer you the opportunity to modify or limit the scope of your request. Alternatively, you may agree to a different timetable for the processing of your request. The component's FOIA Public Liaison can assist you with this.
Special information required to make a FOIA request
None
Publicly available information for which a FOIA request is not required
None