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Select one of these topics:
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What
are the statutes/regulations that apply to the Freedom of Information Act?
The Federal statute that
established FOIA is 5 U.S.C § 552. FOIA
is implemented in the Department of the Navy by Secretary of the Navy
Instruction 5720.42F, "Department of the Navy Freedom of Information Act
Program" (SECNAVINST
5720.42F).
Why
was the Freedom of Information Act created?
The Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) allows
members of the public to obtain a wide range of information from Federal
agencies. FOIA
Who is the
release authority for Navy IG investigations?
The release authority for IG investigations varies. NAVINSGEN is the
release authority for all DoD IG and DoN investigations it has conducted
(by agreement with DoD IG) or tasked to other DoN organizations.
All cases originating with a complaint to the Hotline of another DoN
organization are that organization's responsibility.
For example:
The
NAVSEA release/initial denial authorities will process the FOIA release of a
NAVSEA hotline complaint investigated by a NAVSEA IG or
someone tasked by the NAVSEA IG, for NAVSEA.
However,
since NAVSEA would refer a hotline complaint concerning a SES employee to NAVINSGEN for
investigation, NAVINSGEN would act as the release/initial denial
authority. NAVINSGEN would also be the release authority of any
investigation it tasked to NAVSEA.
How do I
request IG documents under the Freedom of Information Act?
All FOIA requests must be in writing and include the
following information.
A reasonable description
(see below) of the specific record(s) you are seeking, in sufficient
detail for the Legal Office to identify the records, to
include time frame. Don't request by name of the subject.
A statement indicating you agree to pay any fees associated with the
release of the material or that you request a waiver of the fees
(See Navy FOIA website). The fee schedule is provided at
SECNAVINST
5720.42F, enclosure (3).
Your name, complete mailing address, and telephone number.
A reasonable description of the specific record(s)
you are seeking.
If you want a copy of an IG investigation, the case number
is the most useful piece of information you can provide. Do not ask
for an investigation by the name of the subject, as in most cases NAVINSGEN
will refuse to admit or deny that it has conduct an investigation of a
specific individual.
If you were involved in an IG investigation as a subject,
complainant, or witness, the investigator can give you the case number.
If you cannot obtain a case number, identify the command involved in the
investigation, the timeframe, and the general subject matter of the
investigation, and the IG office that conducted the investigation.
Where do I send a request for an
IG investigation?
If NAVINSGEN is the initial
release/denial authority, mail the request to
Office of the Naval Inspector General
Attn: Legal Office
1254 Ninth Street, S.E.
Building 172
Washington Navy Yard, DC
20374-50 06
or send an email request to:
NAVIGLegal@navy.mil
For records related to investigations conducted by
Command Inspectors General, submit the request to the mailing address
provided on the IG Offices link on this website (see Contact an IG on the
left of the page).
What documents
are most
frequently requested from the Naval IG?
IG Investigation files
Are
"FOIA"
and "For Official Use Only" (FOUO) the same?
No. FOIA establishes the rules for determining what information in
official records may be released or withheld from the public.
FOUO is simply a designation applied to records to warn federal employees
that the record may contain information that should be withheld
under the FOIA or PA. The absence of the FOUO designation does
not mean all of the information in a record may be released in response to
a FOIA or PA request.
Is
information in IG investigations also protected under the Privacy Act as
well as FOIA?
Yes. Names of complainants, witnesses, subjects and other
identifying information will be deleted from releases of information made
to the public pursuant to the Privacy Act or FOIA.
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