The LAWCHEK® Bulletin
April 2000 | Vol. 3, Issue 1

Resources & Uses of the FOIA

These sites offer help to the citizen who would like to file a request under the FOIA or would like to know more about the use of the act.   Sites that offer more information about the FOIA in general are listed with an asterisk (*).

Access Reports FOIA
http://www.accessreports.com/
    General review of news and laws.   Subscription for full articles.  Highly recommended by government and attorney reviewers as a resource for information requests from the government.

American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org/library/foia.html
    Great outlined guide for the one who would like a step-by-step approach to filing a report under the FOIA.

American Communication Association
http://www.americancomm.org/~aca/law/foi.html
    Information about different rights.  Covers most of the Americas.  Mainly links to certain areas of FOIA interests.

Brain Bank
http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/GOVERNMENT/FreedInfoAct.html
    A short definition, however, it does translate the use of the FOIA into "normal English."

Citizens Guide to FOIA
http://www.tncrimlaw.com/foia_indx.html
    Another reference and production of the government's guide for those who want to file a request under the statutes of the FOIA.

*Department of Justice
http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/index.html
    Center for requests, reading, reference, department components, links to other agencies, and annual check-up reports.

Department of Justice-Right to Federal Records
http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foia_rights.htm
   A resource guide provided by the Department of Justice and the General Services Administration.  The text hopes to clarify for the public the correct use of the FOIA.

EFF "FOIA and Open Gov't." Archive
http://ftp.eff.org/pub/Activism/FOIA/
    National and International references interested in technological freedom.  A site maintained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  There are also alerts and special current event articles.

*FOIA Center at the University of Missouri
http://web.missouri.edu/~foiwww/
   A reference site created by the University of Missouri students.  The site covers both Federal and State issues with the FOIA and the filing procedures.  There are also many articles discussing how the FOIA has been working off the paper and into the real world.
                    National Request and Appeal Letters
                    http://web.missouri.edu/~foiwww/foialett.html

FOIA Clearinghouse
http://www.citizen.org/litigation/foic/foic.html
    A reference site provided by the Public Citizen.  There is a step-by-step guide as well as links to the documents themselves.

FOIA-Ware
http://www.foia.com/foia_ware.html
   FOIA requests may be filed with extra guidance through this site.  However, it does require a small fee.  This also includes an on-line update system for FOIA requests in progress to those who apply.

Global Securities Information, Inc.
http://www.gsionline.com/products/foia.htm
   Will help those interested in requesting information using the FOIA.  There is a toll-free number listed.

History of the FOIA
http://www.cis.drexel.edu/faculty/shelfer/public_html/busrefpapers/foiahis.htm
   From Drexel University of Information Science and Technology in Pennsylvania prepared by Karen Saunders.

House of Representative’s Guide for FOIA
http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/foia/citizens_guide_to_foia_93.txt

JJTC Books for FOIA
http://www.jjtc.com/Security/books/281.htm
    Booklists provided by Johnson and Johnson Technology Consultants.

National Wilderness Institute
http://www.nwi.org/ResourceArticles/FOIA.html
    Reference about how to file a FOIA request.

November Coalition & FOIA and Privacy Act Explained
http://www.november.org/FOIA-PA.html
    Site dedicated to the protection of civil rights.  More concerned with government's drug policy.  FOIA is discussed as a 'how to' guide for involvement.

Orgonomy FOIA Kit
http://www.orgone.org/articles/ax7freeia.htm
    Quick reference for those interested in filing a FOIA request.

Parascope’s Quick and Dirty Guide to File FOIA
http://www.parascope.com/foia/guide.htm
    The title speaks for itself.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
http://www.rcfp.org/foi.html
    Help for reporters attempting to gather information that requires the use of the FOIA guidelines.  Example letters and a hotline are most beneficial features.

Reporters.net State and National FOIA Resources
http://reporters.net/nfoic/web/index.htm
    Large search for information under general, state, or federal categories.

Smart Agreements FOIA Request Form
http://www.smartagreements.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/cons/lp115.htm?E+scstore
   Legal forms over the Internet.  FOIA request forms included.  Fee required and varies.

*SPJ FOIA Main Index
http://spj.org/foia/
    FOI searches aimed for members of the press, but available to the public.  Federal and State contacts, advocacy groups, coalition groups, national reports and statistics, filing requests for FOIA, newsletters, legal briefs, and the list goes on.  A good point to begin for many researchers.
         SPJ How to file FOIA Resource Federal Letter:
                  
http://spj.org/foia/foiresources/letters/index.htm

UN Conference of FOI International Court Of Honour for Journalists
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/com/compendium/1405.html
   FOI Conference that discussed the procedures of gathering information internationally.  Primarily, the conference was concerned with disputes between journalists from different nationalities.

 

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