U.S. Department
of Justice
OPR FOIA
How to Make a FOIA Request:
1. Before submitting your request to the Department of Justice (DOJ) OPR, make sure that you are seeking the type of records and information maintained by OPR.
DOJ components. DOJ is organized into a number of bureaus, divisions, offices, and boards, which are referred to as “components.” Within DOJ, each component processes its own records in response to FOIA requests. Therefore, your request will receive the quickest possible response if it is addressed directly to the component that you believe has the records you are seeking. OPR is a component of DOJ. Some bureaus and divisions within DOJ have individual offices of professional responsibility that pertain only to that bureau or division. For a list of other offices of professional responsibility, see https://www.justice.gov/opr/department-resources.
Types of OPR records. OPR maintains records relating to investigations of allegations of misconduct by DOJ attorneys that relate to the exercise of their authority to investigate, litigate or provide legal advice. OPR also maintains records relating to investigations of allegations of misconduct by law enforcement personnel that relate to allegations of misconduct by DOJ attorneys. Records maintained by OPR include pending investigations, closed investigations, inquiries, complaints, and records relating to the administration of OPR.
Submitting Your FOIA Request to OPR. Your FOIA request must be in writing/typed and must reasonably and specifically describe the records you seek. The more specific you are, the more likely we will be able to target our search for the OPR-maintained records you seek.
2. If OPR is the DOJ component likely to maintain the records you seek, you can submit your FOIA request one of three ways:
- Email to OPR.FOIA@usdoj.gov
- Online at FOIA.gov, the government's central website for FOIA. Click "Create a Request” and type “DOJ OPR” in the “Search an agency name or keyword” box. Follow the prompts as required. Remember to be as specific as possible in describing the records you seek.
- Mail to FOIA Contact:
Carmen Smith Carter
Assistant Counsel for the FOIA and the Privacy Act
Office of Professional Responsibility
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 3533
Washington, DC 20530
FOIA Requester Service Center: (202) 514-3365
FOIA Public Liaison: Annette Wormley (202) 514-3365
OPR.FOIA@usdoj.gov
If you have any questions about a request submitted to OPR, you may reach out to our FOIA Requester Service Center or FOIA Public Liaison at the numbers above or email us at OPR.FOIA@usdoj.gov.
Special information required to make a FOIA request: None. For information on submitting FOIA requests to other Department of Justice components, see How to Make a FOIA Request to DOJ.
Multitrack Processing: FOIA requests are placed in one of three tracks. Track one is for those requests which seek and receive expedited processing pursuant to subsection (a)(6)(E) of the FOIA. The second track is for those requests which do not involve voluminous records or lengthy consultations with other entities. Track three is for those requests which involve voluminous records and for which lengthy or numerous consultations are required, or those requests which may involve sensitive records.
Publicly Available information for which a FOIA request is not required: FOIA Library: Many OPR documents are available to the public without having to make a FOIA request. Our FOIA library includes proactively disclosed publicly released information previously made in response to FOIA requests as well as OPR Annual Reports.
Helpful FOIA Guides and Resources
DOJ FOIA Reference Guide: This comprehensive guide to the FOIA is also a handbook for obtaining information from the Department.
DOJ FOIA Regulations: These rules, 28 C.F.R. part 16, subpart A, detail the Department of Justice's procedures for implementing the FOIA.
FOIA Exemptions: FOIA exempts nine categories of information from disclosure. For an overview of the FOIA exemptions, see FOIA Exemptions Overview. For a more detailed description of the FOIA exemptions, see the Department of Justice Guide to the FOIA.
FOIA Exclusions: Congress excluded three discrete categories of law enforcement and national security records from the requirements of the FOIA. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(c) (2006 & Supp. IV 2010). OPR responses to all FOIA requests are limited to those records that are subject to the requirements of the FOIA. This notice should not be taken as an indication that excluded records do, or do not, exist. For more information on FOIA Exclusions, see FOIA's Three Statutory Exclusion Provisions
- Email to OPR.FOIA@usdoj.gov
- Online at FOIA.gov, the government's central website for FOIA. Click "Start FOIA Request" and fill in the requested information. Remember to be as specific as possible in describing the OPR records you seek.
- Mail to the above address (note that there are the operation delays in processing physically mailed FOIA requests due to COVID-19).
Special information required to make a FOIA request: None. For information on submitting FOIA requests to the Department of Justice, see How to Make a FOIA Request to DOJ posted in a convenient Q&A format.
Multitrack Processing: FOIA requests are placed in one of three tracks. Track one is for those requests which seek and receive expedited processing pursuant to subsection (a)(6)(E) of the FOIA. The second track is for those requests which do not involve voluminous records or lengthy consultations with other entities. Track three is for those requests which involve voluminous records and for which lengthy or numerous consultations are required, or those requests which may involve sensitive records.
Publicly Available information for which a FOIA request is not required: FOIA Library: Many OPR documents are available to the public without having to make a FOIA request. Our FOIA library includes proactively disclosed publicly released information previously made in response to FOIA requests as well as OPR Annual Reports.
Helpful FOIA Guides and Resources
DOJ FOIA Reference Guide: This comprehensive guide to the FOIA is also a handbook for obtaining information from the Department.
DOJ FOIA Regulations: These rules, 28 C.F.R. part 16, subpart A, detail the Department of Justice's procedures for implementing the FOIA.
FOIA Exemptions: FOIA exempts nine categories of information from disclosure. For an overview of the FOIA exemptions, see FOIA Exemptions Overview. For a more detailed description of the FOIA exemptions, see the Department of Justice Guide to the FOIA.
FOIA Exclusions: Congress excluded three discrete categories of law enforcement and national security records from the requirements of the FOIA. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(c) (2006 & Supp. IV 2010). OPR responses to all FOIA requests are limited to those records that are subject to the requirements of the FOIA. This notice should not be taken as an indication that excluded records do, or do not, exist. For more information on FOIA Exclusions, see FOIA's Three Statutory Exclusion Provisions.