Saturday, February 2, 2008

Research at the FBI's Freedom of Information Website


FBI's Freedom of Information Website

Did you know? Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) you can request information found in the FBI’s Central Records System. What kind of information? ... Information about an organization, business, investigation, historical event, or incident. ... Information about a third party. ... Information about a deceased person. ... Information about yourself.

If your request is for information concerning an organization, business, investigation, historical event, or incident, you may submit your request directly to the FBI online. Get more information at FBI FOIA instructions.

If you are requesting information from the FBI about yourself or someone else you must mail or fax your request to the FBI. If you are requesting information about someone else you must have that person complete and notorize a Privacy Waiver and Certification of Identity ... This way identities are protected.

There's also some other cool stuff from the FBI. Visit the FBI's FOIA Electronic Reading Room Where the FBI has converted many previously classified documents into an electronic file (PDF) and they may be viewed by clicking on the cooresponding letter of the alphabet. Find files on the Beatles, Ma Barker, Machine Gun Kelly, even Alcoholics Anonymous. Granted some of the information is blacked out, but still these files are filled with snippets of biographical and intelligence information that makes great material for school assignments or just plain interesting reading!