FOIA section 7(1)(e)
FOIACorrectional/detention facility security records
5 ILCS 140/7(1)(e). Correctional/detention facility security records
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5 issues across 4 determination letters:1 violation found · 4 no violation.
Counts are per issue, not per letter, and come from automated extraction checked against sampled letters. Determination letters are not binding precedent.
Authorities the Bureau cites most on this issue
- Glynn v. Dep't of Corrections, 2023 IL App (1st) 211657 cited 2 times
- Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 40573 cited 2 times
- Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 36649 cited 2 times
How to challenge a denial on this issue
AI-generated summary of the decisions listed on this page, with each point linked to the letters it comes from. Determination letters are not binding precedent and this is not legal advice. Open the letter and check the PDF before relying on any point.
When a challenge is strong
- The record is a general routine incident response policy, not a specific security procedure. General incident response information does not pose a security risk under section 7(1)(e), so withholding it violates FOIA.Based on: n.d. · Internal policies and incident re…
- The record does not contain specific security measures like contraband search or medication security protocols. Only records that would jeopardize facility security are exempt; general operational policies are not, as shown by the contrast between D902.2 and D902.1.Based on: n.d. · Internal policies and incident re… · n.d. · Internal policies and incident re…
When the public body usually wins
- The record is video footage of a detention facility that reveals blind spots or internal layout. Such footage could be exploited by inmates and poses a potential security risk, so the exemption applies.Based on: n.d. · Jail surveillance footage from a … · n.d. · Surveillance footage of a jail bo… · n.d. · Jail surveillance video footage
- The record is a policy specifically about security measures like contraband search or medication security. Disclosure of these policies would jeopardize the security of a correctional or detention facility, so they are exempt.Based on: n.d. · Internal policies and incident re…
Points to put in your letter
- Argue that the record is a general routine incident response policy, not a specific security measure, and therefore does not jeopardize facility security under section 7(1)(e).Based on: n.d. · Internal policies and incident re…
- Distinguish your record from contraband search or medication security policies (which are exempt) by showing it contains only general operational information, like the incident response policy in D902.2.Based on: n.d. · Internal policies and incident re… · n.d. · Internal policies and incident re…
Common mistakes
- Assuming that any record related to a correctional facility is exempt under section 7(1)(e).Based on: n.d. · Internal policies and incident re…
- Failing to distinguish between general incident response policies and specific security procedures when claiming or challenging an exemption.Based on: n.d. · Internal policies and incident re… · n.d. · Internal policies and incident re…
- Arguing that jail video footage is always public without considering whether it reveals blind spots or internal layout.Based on: n.d. · Jail surveillance footage from a … · n.d. · Surveillance footage of a jail bo… · n.d. · Jail surveillance video footage
Facts to gather first
- Whether the record is a general incident response policy or a specific security procedure (e.g., contraband search, medication security).
- Whether the video footage shows blind spots or internal layout of the detention facility.
- The specific content of the record to assess if it reveals security vulnerabilities.
These determination letters are non-binding, the data is limited to a few scenarios, and you should verify the full text of the decisions in the PDF as facts matter.
Drafting brief for an AI assistant
Copy this into your assistant to help draft a request, appeal, or challenge to a denial that turns on this issue. It carries the rules and decisions, not your facts: add those yourself. Machine-readable version: foia-7-1-e.json.
Violation found (1)
Redactions of incident response policy
Rule: General routine incident response information does not pose a security risk and is not exempt under section 7(1)(e).
Violation found Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center · January 21, 2020
No violation (4)
Withholding jail booking video under security exemption
Rule: Video footage of a detention facility's booking area is exempt from disclosure because it could reveal internal layout and blind spots that undermine jail security.
No violation Surveillance footage of a jail booking area · June 18, 2025
Withholding jail dayroom video under section 7(1)(e)
Rule: Section 7(1)(e) exempts records that could jeopardize facility security if disclosed, and the footage revealing most but not all of a jail common area with blind spots could pose such a risk.
No violation Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area · July 31, 2025
Withholding jail video under section 7(1)(e)
Rule: Video of a jail common area revealing blind spots that could be exploited by inmates poses a potential security risk, so the exemption applies.
No violation Jail surveillance video footage · September 23, 2024
Redactions of contraband search and medication security policies
Rule: Section 7(1)(e) exempts records whose disclosure would jeopardize the security of a correctional or detention facility.
No violation Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center · January 21, 2020