What is a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request?
The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act is to ensure that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government, and other official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials.

The principle mandate of the Act provides that each public body, upon submission of a written request, shall make available to any person for inspection, or to provide copies of any requested records that are subject to disclosure under the Act. Not all records are subject to disclosure, and the Act provides a number of exemptions.

This Act is not intended to be used to violate individual privacy, nor for the purpose of furthering commercial enterprise (there are further rules covering commercial requests), or to disrupt the duly-undertaken work of any public body independent of the fulfillment of the rights of the people to access information (5 ILCS 140/1). The Act does not require the Village to create new records or to answer questions other than through the production of records.

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1. What is a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request?
2. Has there been an update regarding laws pertaining to FOIA requests?
3. How do I make a FOIA request?
4. What’s the difference between a FOIA request for a general public record and a FOIA request for the Westmont Police Department?
5. Can a FOIA request be denied?
6. What is the charge for a FOIA request?
7. How long does the Village of Westmont have to respond to a FOIA request?

8. Can a denied FOIA request be appealed?