Freedom of Information Act

Every public body in Illinois is required to permit inspection of or provide copies of public records that are subject to disclosure under Illinois' Freedom of Information Act.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act can be found on the Illinois Attorney General’s website. This is a good source of information about the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and how to submit public records requests.

What kind of records can I receive?

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) very broadly defines the information which you can be request from the City of Lincoln Police Department. A list of those records can be found here.

Exemptions

Some records may be exempt from disclosure and may be redacted or denied in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Some records are not subject to release via the FOIA process. These records are described under 5 ILCS 140, Sections 2.15, 7, and 7.5. Some records may also be subject to provisions imposed by other state statutes. The FOIA process for disclosure of information does not supersede other applicable statutory and judicial mandates.

FOIA Response Time Requirements

The Lincoln Police Department must respond to a FOIA request within 5 business days after the receipt of the request. Day 1 of the 5-day timeline is the first business day after the request is received by the public body.

This time period may be extended for an additional 5 business days from the date of the original due date if:

• The requested information is stored at a different location.
• The request requires the collection of a substantial number of documents.
• The request requires an extensive search.
• The requested records have not been located and require additional effort to find.
• The requested records need to be reviewed by staff who can determine whether they are exempt from FOIA.
• The requested records cannot be produced without unduly burdening the public body or interfering with its operations.
• The request requires the public body to consult with another public body who has substantial interest in the subject matter of the request.

If additional time is needed, the Police FOI Official must notify the requestor in writing within 5 business days after the receipt of the request of the statutory reasons for the extension and when the requested information will be produced.

For commercial requests, the Lincoln Police Department has 21 days to respond. A commercial request must be disclosed in the initial request for information. 

If the public body does not respond to your request within 5 business days after receiving it, then their inaction is considered a denial of your request. If that occurs, you can either file a Request for Review with the Attorney General's PAC or file a case in court. If you choose to file a Request for Review, the request must be sent to:

Public Access Bureau
500 S. 2nd Street

Springfield, IL 62706
217-558-0486

Email Address: public.access@ilag.gov

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