OFFICE OF INFORMATION POLICY

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The Office of Information Policy (OIP) was created on November 2, 1981, and was established as an independent office by Attorney General Janet Reno on May 14, 1993.

OIP is responsible for encouraging agency compliance with the Freedom and Information Act (FOIA).

The major functions of OIP are to:

• Develop and provide guidance to agencies on questions relating to application of the FOIA.
  
  
• Publish the Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Guide, which is a comprehensive treatise addressing all aspects of the FOIA, as well as FOIA Post, which is an on-line newsletter addressing FOIA issues of current interest.
  
  
• Conduct a variety of training programs for FOIA personnel across the government including specialized agency programs.
  
  
• Manage the Department’s responsibilities related to the FOIA, which includes adjudicating all administrative appeals from denials of access to records made by any Department component under either the FOIA or Privacy Act of 1974.
  
  
• Handle initial requests for records of the Office of the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and Associate Attorney General, as well as other senior management offices.
  
  
• Provide staff support to the Department Review Committee.
  
  
• Handle the defense of certain FOIA matters in litigation.

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