Free State and Federal Open Records Law Request Letter Generator
There is always someone requesting to get their information from state government offices or other government bodies only to be stone-walled by “That is confidential information and cannot be released.” Due to the Freedom of Information Act that is no longer the end of it. That is if you properly request your wanted information.
There is many reasons for using such a letter. A citizen might use it to gain information about their own case file at a number of government orginizations, such as Job and Family Services. Applicants for Social Security Disability or Child Support could have need to get personal case file information from those offices. Such information could help when re-applying fordisability after being denied, or when needing proof of payments to child support, or proof of no payment, in order to proceed with alternitive actions.
Private citizens are allowed to request and receive public information from County Health Departments, public schools, law enforcement agencies and various other common government entities. Personal reasons or for financial gain, if the information needed is held by a government agency, it is your right as an American to have access. For instance: Is your community water source meeting minimum requirements? Did the city maintenance crew have knowledge there was a slight defect at the intersection months before?
Of course, some information does not fall within accessable boundaries. For instance, requests for the divulging of personal information, sensitive government security reasons and matters that may not be in the publics best interest, are all very expected denial causes.
A more specific group of users would be private investigators and the invesigative press. Although the website name is Student Press Law Center, it is useful to paid experianced professionals as well as student journalists. A legal professional can use the letter generator to save time, save money by not buying an extra peice of software, and still show concise documents to collegues. Investigation professionals and students have a tool to ‘backseat drive’ the legal paperwork for simple requests of information. The process is simple. Fill in the online form with the pertinent information, the names and address of who the letter will be received by, the information requested and the maximum fee that you are willing to pay for the file copy. Then print out the finished letter.
The letter to federal agencies require more information, but there is a fee benefit to journalists and a fee waiver if the information is in the public;s best interest. An example of such is requesting general population medical statistics in order to use those facts to promote health public service announcements. Or for education benefits.
Use of the service is not restricted or limited in any way, and it is free. However, the Student Press Law Center does accept monetary contributions in order to further the respectable SPLC cause.
