{
 "topic": "FOIA section 9.5(c)",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/9.5(c)",
 "family": "Review by the Public Access Counselor",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-9-5-c/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 8,
  "no_violation": 3,
  "no_determination": 0,
  "other": 0
 },
 "challenge_notes": {
  "generated_by": "AI summary of the decisions listed on this page; not legal advice; verify each decision against its PDF",
  "when_a_challenge_is_strong": [
   {
    "text": "The public body refused to provide the requested records to the Public Access Counselor for confidential review.",
    "why": "Section 9.5(c) requires public bodies to provide records to the PAC and fully cooperate; failure to do so is a violation.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Investigative reports on sexual harassment allegations",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81203/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Communications with a judge about a wrongful death lawsuit",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77825/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "A summary of responses to an Invitation for Proposals",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-75440/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A village superintendent's and zoning administrator's emails",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73487/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Emails between a township and its legal counsel",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-52748/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A corrections department's gang renunciation program records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-45170/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body's response to a multipart request did not clearly identify which records correspond to each part, did not state whether records exist, or did not cite exemptions for withheld records.",
    "why": "A public body must provide a clear response for each part of a multipart request.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "School district policies, employment records, and investigative documents",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-90586/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body conducted an unreasonable search, such as failing to search all likely record systems or shifting the burden to the requester to specify search terms.",
    "why": "The search must be reasonable and tailored to the request.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Documents on four vaping-related deaths",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-61017/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "when_the_body_usually_wins": [
   {
    "text": "The request sought information, answers to questions, or general data rather than reasonably identifying a specific public record.",
    "why": "FOIA does not require public bodies to answer questions or create records; the request must identify a public record.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Staff identities in complaint processing",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86704/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A broad request for judicial and law enforcement records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-79945/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body conducted a reasonable search and no responsive records were created or retained.",
    "why": "A requester is entitled only to records the agency actually created and retained; the search is judged by reasonableness.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Police body-camera footage of a July 2024 incident",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-84547/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "points_to_put_in_the_letter": [
   {
    "text": "If the public body did not provide the records to the PAC for review, state that Section 9.5(c) requires them to do so and that failure to cooperate is a violation.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Investigative reports on sexual harassment allegations",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81203/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Communications with a judge about a wrongful death lawsuit",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77825/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "A summary of responses to an Invitation for Proposals",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-75440/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A village superintendent's and zoning administrator's emails",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73487/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Emails between a township and its legal counsel",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-52748/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A corrections department's gang renunciation program records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-45170/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "If your request had multiple parts and the response was unclear, demand that the body identify which records correspond to each part, state whether records exist, and cite exemptions for any withheld or redacted records.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "School district policies, employment records, and investigative documents",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-90586/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "If the body claimed no records exist but did not explain its search, argue that the search was unreasonable because it did not search all likely record systems or improperly shifted the burden to you to specify search terms.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Documents on four vaping-related deaths",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-61017/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "If the body refused to provide records to the PAC claiming attorney-client privilege, point out that providing records to the PAC does not waive privilege.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Emails between a township and its legal counsel",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-52748/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Investigative reports on sexual harassment allegations",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81203/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "facts_to_gather": [
   "Whether the request was a multipart request and the response failed to address each part.",
   "Whether the public body refused to provide records to the PAC or failed to cooperate.",
   "Whether the public body claimed no records exist but did not describe the search conducted.",
   "Whether the request identified specific records or was a question seeking information."
  ],
  "common_mistakes": [
   {
    "text": "Framing a request as a question or for general information instead of identifying specific records.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Staff identities in complaint processing",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86704/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A broad request for judicial and law enforcement records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-79945/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Believing that providing records to the PAC for confidential review waives attorney-client privilege.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Emails between a township and its legal counsel",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-52748/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Investigative reports on sexual harassment allegations",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81203/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Assuming that a public body must create records or compile data in response to a request.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Staff identities in complaint processing",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86704/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A broad request for judicial and law enforcement records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-79945/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "caution": "These notes are based on non-binding determination letters; the outcome of any challenge depends on the specific facts and the applicable law, and you should verify the full text of the decisions."
 },
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "Adequacy of District's response to multipart FOIA request",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body responding to a multipart FOIA request must clearly identify which records correspond to each part, state if no responsive records exist, and cite exemptions for withheld or redacted records.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "School district policies, employment records, and investigative documents",
    "date": "2026-01-05",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-90586/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 30548",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Rockford Police Benevolent and Protective Assn, Unit No. 6 v. Morrissey, 398 Ill. App. 3d 145, 150 (2010)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2-09-0100/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 57553",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Request sought information, not reasonably identified records",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "FOIA does not require a public body to answer questions or create records; a request must reasonably identify a public record rather than general information.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Staff identities in complaint processing",
    "date": "2025-06-09",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86704/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Southern Illinoisan v. Illinois Department of Public Health, 218 Ill. 2d 390, 415 (2006)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Chicago Tribune Co. v. Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, 2014 IL App (4th) 130427, ¶ 33, 8 N.E.3d 11, 19 (2014)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2014%20IL%20App%20(4th)%20130427/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Kenyon",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Department of State, 177 F. Supp. 3d 450, 455 (D.D.C. 2016)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Hudgins v. IRS, 620 F. Supp. 19, 21 (D.D.C. 1985)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Adequacy of search for body camera footage",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A public body's search for responsive records is judged by reasonableness; a requester is entitled only to records the agency actually created and retained.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police body-camera footage of a July 2024 incident",
    "date": "2025-01-24",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-84547/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Better Government Ass'n v. City of Chicago, 2020 IL App (1st) 190038, ¶ 31",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Yeager v. Drug Enforcement Administration, 678 F.2d 315, 321 (D.C. Cir. 1982)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "District refusal to provide records to PAC",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Public bodies must provide withheld records to the PAC for confidential review; doing so does not waive attorney-client privilege.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Investigative reports on sexual harassment allegations",
    "date": "2024-10-16",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81203/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 12-007",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2011-pac-17813/"
    },
    {
     "text": "United States v. Zolin, 491 U.S. 554 (1989)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Jordan v. United States Dep't of Labor, 273 F. Supp. 3d 214 (D.D.C. 2017)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Cobell v. Norton, 213 F.R.D. 69 (D.D.C. 2003)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Whether request reasonably identified public records",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A FOIA request must reasonably identify a public record and not general data, information, or statistics; the Department was not required to divine the requester's intent.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A broad request for judicial and law enforcement records",
    "date": "2024-02-15",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-79945/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Southern Illinoisan v. Illinois Department of Public Health, 218 Ill. 2d 390, 415 (2006)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Chicago Tribune Co. v. Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, 2014 IL App (4th) 130427, ¶33, 8 N.E.3d 11, 19 (2014)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2014%20IL%20App%20(4th)%20130427/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Kowalczyk v. Dep't of Justice, 73 F.3d 386, 388 (D.C. Cir. 1996)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Yeager v. Drug Enforcement Administration, 678 F.2d 315, 326 (D.C. Cir. 1982)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "American Chemistry Council, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 922 F. Supp. 2d 56, 62 (D.D.C. 2013)",
     "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2661135/american-chemistry-council-inc-v-united-states-department-of-health-and/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Failure to provide records for PAC review",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body must provide requested records to the PAC for confidential review; failure to do so prevents exemption analysis and requires a revised response.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Communications with a judge about a wrongful death lawsuit",
    "date": "2023-12-20",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77825/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Department failed to provide records to PAC",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body must provide requested records to the Public Access Counselor within 7 business days and fully cooperate with the PAC.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A summary of responses to an Invitation for Proposals",
    "date": "2023-05-25",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-75440/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Village failed to cooperate with PAC",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body must provide requested records and fully cooperate with the Public Access Counselor within 7 business days of a request for review.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A village superintendent's and zoning administrator's emails",
    "date": "2023-05-02",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73487/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Reasonable search for responsive records",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body must conduct a reasonable search tailored to the request, including all likely record systems, and cannot shift the burden to the requester to specify search terms or a timeframe.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Documents on four vaping-related deaths",
    "date": "2020-03-03",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-61017/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Campbell v. U.S. Department of Justice, 164 F.3d 20, 28 (D.C. Cir. 1998)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Oglesby v. U.S. Department of the Army, 920 F.2d 57, 68 (D.C. Cir. 1990)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Iturralde v. Comptroller of Currency, 315 F.3d 311, 315 (D.C. Cir. 2003)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Hall v. C.I.A., 668 F. Supp. 2d 172, 183-84 (D.D.C. 2009)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Yeager v. Drug Enforcement Administration, 678 F.2d 315, 321 (D.C. Cir. 1982)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Rugiero v. U.S. Department of Justice, 257 F.3d 534, 547 (6th Cir. 2001)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Chicago Tribune Co. v. Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, 2014 IL App (4th) 130427, ¶ 33, 8 N.E.3d 11, 19 (2014)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2014%20IL%20App%20(4th)%20130427/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Bocock v. Will County Sheriff, 2018 IL App (3d) 170330, ¶ 50, 100 N.E.3d 649, 658 (2018)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2018%20IL%20App%20(3d)%20170330/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Whether providing records to PAC waives attorney-client privilege",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Section 9.5(c) requires public bodies to provide records to the PAC and fully cooperate; furnishing records to the PAC does not waive attorney-client privilege.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Emails between a township and its legal counsel",
    "date": "2018-10-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-52748/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Vaughn v. Speaker, 126 Ill. 2d 150, 161 (1998)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Powers v. Chicago Transit Auth., 890 F.2d 1355, 1359 (7th Cir. 1989)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Transamerica Computer v. International Business Machines, 573 F.2d 646, 651 (9th Cir. 1978)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 12-007, issued April 2, 2012, at 7",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2011-pac-17813/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "IDOC refusal to provide records to PAC",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Public bodies must provide copies of requested records and fully cooperate with the Public Access Counselor; they have no discretion to refuse.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A corrections department's gang renunciation program records",
    "date": "2017-03-07",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-45170/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 12-007",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2011-pac-17813/"
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}