The Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”), Article 6 (Sections 84-90) of the New York State Public Officers Law, provides the public right to access to records maintained by government agencies with certain exceptions.
“Record” means any information kept, held, filed, produced or reproduced by, with, or for this agency, in any physical form whatsoever including but not limited to reports, statements, examinations, memoranda, opinions, folders, files, books, manuals, pamphlets, forms, papers, designs, drawings, maps, photos, letters, microfilms, computer tapes or disks, rules, regulations or codes.
If you would like your records from this agency, you may not have to file a FOIL request.
FOIL does not handle requests to access an incarcerated individual's medical records under Public Health Law 18, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), or Health Service Policy 4.10. Requests for medical records should be directed to the Facility Medical Director.
To learn more about access to records for an upcoming Board of Parole interview, Administrative Appeal, or Revocation Hearing (9 NYCRR § 8000.5), view New York State Rules and Regulations.
To find out more about accessing records for a Sex Offender Revocation Act Hearing, see pages 30 and 31 of the Guidelines.
Submit written requests to:
Mail
Records Access Officer
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Harriman State Campus
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Fax
Within five business days of the receipt of a written request for a record reasonably described, we will send a letter either making such record available, denying such request in writing, or furnishing a written acknowledgment of the receipt of such request.
If you do not receive a letter within five business days, please contact us at 518-457-0176 or [email protected] .
Please be advised that all electronic Freedom of Information requests are determined to have been received on the first normal business day after such requests are submitted.
If the records you request require a fee to be paid, you will be notified prior to the records being released to you. Unless a different fee is otherwise prescribed by statute, Public Officers Law §87(1) authorizes an agency to charge a fee of 25¢ per copy for copies of records up 9”x 14”, or the actual cost of reproducing a record. In determining the actual cost of producing a record, an agency may include only:
Once the requested records are prepared, you may receive the records via email, fax, paper, CD/DVD, or USB.
Records are available for inspection, by appointment, on business days between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Records Access Office, Harriman State Campus, Building 9, 1220 Washington Avenue in Albany.
You may schedule an appointment for in-person inspection of records by calling 518-457-0176.
Under provisions of the Public Officers Law, you may appeal a FOIL determination. If you desire to submit such an appeal, you must do so within 30 days of the written response to your FOIL request.
Please include a copy of the original request for records and a copy of the FOIL response letter you received along with your appeal letter to:
David Laplant
Records Appeal Officer
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Harriman State Campus
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12226
You will be informed in writing of the decision within 10 business days of receipt of such an appeal. Please indicate the FOIL Request Number when corresponding on this subject.
DOCCS maintains a current list of records, by subject matter. Some of these records may be exempt from disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law.
For more information about FOIL, please visit the New York State Committee on Open Government’s website.
When submitting a FOIL request:
