Department of Justice
About the agency
The Department of Justice, also known as the Justice Department, is an executive department of the United States government that is responsible for law enforcement. The Department of Justice is in charge of numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Records available
In the Department of Justice's 2015 annual FOIA report, the department states that it, "invokes the FOIA's two privacy exemptions, more than the rest of the other exemptions combined, to prevent unwarranted invasions of the personal privacy of individuals mentioned in law enforcement records. The Department of Justice also protects the identities of confidential informants who provide information to investigators as well as details about investigative techniques and procedures. In the general litigation context, the Department of Justice protects information covered by the civil discovery privileges."
Requester suggestions, tips and guidance
- The DOJ recommends that FOIA requests be sent to the specific bureau/division/office that contains the records pertinent to the request. Find the email addresses and standard mail addresses for those offices here. If uncertain which specific office has the records for your request, the DOJ offers a general submissions address at this link (scroll down to “Where Should I Send My request?”)
Appeals suggestions, tips and guidance
Learned something about this agency's process through an appeal? Let everyone know.
Subagencies
- Antitrust Division
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
- Civil Division
- Civil Rights Division
- Community Relations Service
- Criminal Division
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Environment and Natural Resources Division
- Executive Office for Immigration Review
- Executive Office for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
- Executive Office for United States Attorneys
- Executive Office for United States Trustees
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
- INTERPOL-United States National Central Bureau
- Justice Management Division
- National Security Division
- Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
- Office of Information Policy
- Office of Justice Programs
- Office of Legal Counsel
- Office of Legal Policy
- Office of Legislative Affairs
- Office of Professional Responsibility
- Office of Public Affairs
- Office of the Associate Attorney General
- Office of the Attorney General
- Office of the Deputy Attorney General
- Office of the Inspector General
- Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Office of the Solicitor General
- Office of Tribal Justice
- Office on Violence Against Women
- Professional Responsibility Advisory Office
- Tax Division
- United States Marshals Service
- United States Parole Commission