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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S. Code § 552) provides for public access to government records through written request. The USNCB generally follows the guidelines set forth by the Department of Justice in its FOIA section. Please take the following into consideration when requesting information from the USNCB:
- USNCB files contain messages transmitted between foreign police and U.S. law enforcement authorities in criminal investigative matters. The USNCB also maintains administrative files.
- The USNCB retrieves information from its files primarily by a person's complete name, date of birth, and place of birth. These data elements are usually essential for a search of USNCB records.
- The USNCB searches only its own records to respond to FOIA requests. It cannot arrange for searches of files in foreign countries.
- The USNCB’s records are retained for a period of 7 years from the date a case is closed. Therefore, records requested may have been destroyed, or, may not exist in the USNCB system. Currently, USNCB cases closed prior to March 1993 are no longer available.
- The U.S. Attorney General exempted the records of the USNCB from sections of the Privacy Act providing for access to certain records (28 C.F.R. §16.103). Therefore, the USNCB does not process requests for information under the Privacy Act.
USNCB FOIA Requester Service Center
The USNCB has its own FOIA Requestor Service Center (FRSC), separate from the main center at the Department of Justice. The USNCB’s FRSC serves as the central location for a FOIA requestor to contact when seeking information regarding the status of a FOIA request and appropriate information about the USNCB’s FOIA response. The contact information for the USNCB staff member responsible for FOIA requests is:
FOIA Public Liaison:
Dorothy S. Beaty
FOIA/ PA Specialist
Mailing Address:
Office of the General Counsel
INTERPOL-U.S. National Central Bureau
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
Telephone:
(202) 353-0803
MAKING A FOIA REQUEST
The FOIA specifies only two requirements for a request for records: 1) the request must "reasonably describe" the records sought; and 2) must be made in accordance with the agency's published FOIA regulations. In making your FOIA request, please provide a request letter, describing the records you seek, along with a DOJ Form 361, Certificate of Identity Form, if appropriate.
To Request Information Concerning another person:
Living Person(s):
A letter to the USNCB dated and signed by the person to whom the records relate and providing the person's full name (including all names and aliases ever used), date of birth, place of birth, and authorizing the USNCB to release, specifically to you, any information it may have about that person. The letter must include a DOJ Form 361, Certification of Identity, if appropriate.
Deceased Person(s):
Proof of death such as a death certificate or obituary as well as all names used; date of birth; and place of birth.
Please note that the information provided above is for FOIA inquiries only. For questions or general information regarding the USNCB, please click here.