Freedom of Information Act 

Under the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), records in the possession of public agencies may be accessed by the public upon written request. The Act defines a public record as, "all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body."

Some records are, however, not subject to release via the FOIA process. These types of 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. 

Each FOIA request should state that you are requesting the information under the Freedom of Information Act and must clearly describe the information being sought. Each request must also include full contact information for the requestor, including name, organization, mailing address, e-mail address, fax number and daytime phone number.

FOIA requests may be submitted by any of the following methods: US Mail, fax, or special carrier (UPS, FedEx, etc).

Access to, or copies of public records may be obtained through the FOIA via an on-site records review at agency headquarters or agency duplication (fees may be assessed) and mailing. The appropriate method will depend upon the type and quantity of records requested.

All requests are processed in the order in which they are received. The Agency will respond within five working days of receipt of the request. A five-day extension is allowed with written notification to the requestor.

Any follow-up inquiries that you may have on the status of your request, on-site record review appointments, record duplication fees or other questions should be directed to Lisa Weitekamp at 217.558.2200, Extension 4166.

All public requests for records shall be submitted to:

Lisa Weitekamp
Freedom of Information Officer
Illinois Department of Corrections
1301 Concordia Court
P.O. Box 19277
Springfield, IL 62794-9277

Fax: 217.522.4374
Lisa.weitekamp@doc.illinois.gov

Fee Schedule for Duplication of Public Records

Unless a fee is otherwise fixed by another statute, or unless the Department grants a request for a fee waiver/reduction in the public interest, as defined in FOIA, the charges associated with copies in response to FOIA requests shall be as set forth below:

• No fees shall be charged for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal sized copies requested.

• Thereafter, a fee of $0.15 per page will be charged for each additional black and white, letter or legal sized copy. 

• For all other copies, including color copies, the Department shall charge no more than the actual cost for reproducing the records. 

                        Color Copies (8 ½ x 11)           $0.59 per page

The Department may charge the requester for the actual cost of purchasing a recording medium, whether disc, diskette, tape, or other medium.

Illinois Department of Corrections List of Records Immediately Available for Release

Pursuant to Section 3.5(a) of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/), the below list of Department documents or categories of records shall be immediately disclosed upon request:

1. ADMINISTRATION
   1. Staff Operating Procedure/Policies
      1. Department Administrative Code Rules
   2. Statistics and Research (data may not be current to the date of request)
      1. Population data
      2. Recidivism data
      3. General Inmate Profiles
   3. Legislative
      1. Legislative Synopsis
      2. Quarterly Reports to Legislature
   4. Audits/Reports
      1. DOC Annual Reports
      2. County and Municipal Jail Inspection Reports
   5. Media Materials
      1. Brochures
      2. DOC Newsletters/Perspectives
   6. Legal
      1. Consent Decrees
2. Program
   1. Education
      1. Policy Records
      2. Monthly Enrollment
      3. Special Education Program Overview
      4. Curriculum
   2. Recreation
      1. Gymnasium Assignment Form
      2. Intramurals
      3. Music Program
      4. Resident Program Contract
      5. Special Events
   3. Chaplaincy
      1. Bilingual Program
      2. Clergy Visits- Monthly Summary
      3. Religious Preference General Summary
   4. Medical
      1. Mental Health Program Overview
      2. Medical Health Program Overview
   5. Dietary
      1. Menus
      2. Nutritional Analysis
      3. Food Service Manuals
      4. Food Costs
      5. General Dietary Habits of Population 
   6. Field Services
      1. Interstate Compacts
   7. Correctional Industries
      1. Cost and sales analysis and marketing studies
      2. Raw Materials Inventories
      3. Price lists
      4. Production and Sales Reports
3. Fiscal
   1. Budget
      1. Department Headcount Summaries
      2. Department Facility Budget Requests and Appropriations
      3. Facility Estimated Expenditures for each fiscal year
      4. Detailed budget schedules showing prior year expenditures, current year estimates, and budget year request by line item and facility
   2. Property/Inventory Control (Records pertaining to active lease negotiations are subject to exemption under 7(1)(r) of the Act)
      1. Real Property Leases
      2. Farm Leases
      3. Equipment Leases
      4. Commodity inventory records 
   3. Funds
      1. Inmates’ Benefit Funds
      2. Inmates’ Commissary Funds
      3. Employees’ Benefit Funds
      4. Employees’ Commissary Funds
   4. Accounting Records
      1. Department Appropriation Financial Records
      2. Reconciliations of Department records to Comptroller’s Office 
4. Personnel
   1. Labor Relations
      1. Final Bargaining Agreements/Contracts
      2. Arbitration Decisions (if unsealed)
      3. Career Opportunity Bulletins
   2. Affirmative Action
      1. Annual Affirmative Action Plan
      2. Department of Human Rights Quarterly Reports
      3. Recruitment 
   3. Employee Personnel Files
      1. Salary
      2. Dates of Employment
      3. Position
   4. Hiring
      1. Job postings
      2. Bid Sheets
      3. Job Descriptions
      4. Classification specifications 
5. Operations
   1. Safety and Sanitation
      1. Fire and Safety Inspection Reports
      2. Fire Drill Records