Here’s a sample FOIA letter to help you get started filing Freedom of Information Act requests.
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Name of Agency
Address of Agency
City, State, Zip Code
Re: Illinois Freedom of Information Act Request
Dear ________:
This is a request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
I am requesting:
(The information that you are requesting).
Please waive any applicable fees. Release of the information is in the public interest because it will contribute significantly to public understanding of government operations and activities. In addition, this work may appear on the online newsroom website, CU-CitizenAccess.org, and may be shared with the News-Gazette and Illinois Public Media.
Thus, I am requesting a fee waiver for any potential costs, as the release of information will be published for public interest. If a fee waiver cannot be granted, please inform me of all costs before further processing the request.
If the request is denied in whole or part, we ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. We will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. We, of course, reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.
Please let me know if you have questions, and if I can do anything to expedite this request.
I look forward to hearing from you by (five business days) as required by state law.
Thank you for your assistance,
Name
Affiliation
Phone number
Email address