Source: https://vadoc.virginia.gov/FOIA.shtm
Timestamp: 2018-05-26 13:30:41
Document Index: 96696442

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 32', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§53', '§ 2', '§ 2']

Commonwealth of Virginia - Department of Corrections - Freedom of Information Act
The VADOC’s Responsibilities in Responding to Your Request
It is the policy of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) to make public records available in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Freedom of Information Act, § 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia, guarantees citizens of the Commonwealth and representatives of the media access to public records held by public bodies, public officials, and public employees.
This is a commonsense standard. It does not refer to or limit the volume or number of records that you are requesting; instead, it requires that you be specific enough so that we can identify and locate the records that you are seeking.
FOIA gives you a right to inspect or copy records; it does not apply to a situation where you are asking general questions about the work of the VADOC. In addition, we are not required to create a new record if the record does not already exist.
To request records from the Virginia Department of Corrections, you should direct your request to the Manager of the Unit, the Warden or Superintendent of the facility, or the Chief of the Probation and Parole District that maintains the records you are requesting.
Contact information for regional offices, correctional facilities, probation and parole offices and community corrections facilities can be found through the links for each Division in the
The VADOC's policies and procedures can be found on our Agency Procedures page. If you have been directed here from our Policy and Procedures Page, please contact FOIA@vadoc.virginia.gov.
For other types of VADOC records, you can find information on the VADOC website in the Agency Directory.
The mailing address, main phone number, and contact email for all Central Office Units and Headquarters is:
E-mail: DOCMail@vadoc.virginia.gov
The Virginia Parole Board is a separate state agency from the Virginia Department of Corrections. Visit their website to submit a FOIA request.
Legal Services - Ryan McCord
E-mail: FOIA@vadoc.virginia.gov
Day One is considered the first workday after your request is received. The five-day period
does not include weekends or holidays.
The following is a general description of the types of records held by the Virginia Department of
The VADOC commonly withholds records subject to the following exemptions:
The general policy of the Department is to invoke the contract negotiations exemption whenever it applies in order to protect the Department’s bargaining position and negotiation strategy.
Engineering and architectural drawings, operational, procedural, tactical planning or training manuals, staff meeting minutes or other records, the disclosure of which would jeopardize the security of any governmental facility, building or structure or the safety of persons using such facility, building or structure (§ 2.2-3705.2 (6))
Medical and mental health records (§ 2.2-3705.5 (1); § 32.1-127.1:03)
The general policy of the Department is to invoke the offender records and medical records exemptions where they apply in order to protect the privacy of offenders and to comply with applicable laws governing the release of certain criminal and health records.
Records of offenders incarcerated in correctional facilities (§ 2.2-3706 (A)(2)(d))
Records of adults under investigation or supervision by state probation and parole services (§ 2.2-3706 (A)(2)(f))
Records relating to a criminal investigation or prosecution (§ 2.2-3706 (A)(2)(a))
Records of the Commitment Review Committee concerning individuals subject to civil commitment as sexually violent predators and records identifying the victims of such persons (§ 2.2-3705.2 (9))
The identities of persons designated to conduct an execution and any information reasonably calculated to lead to the identities of such persons (§ 2.2-3705.7 (26); §53.1-233)
Records submitted in confidence to agents of the Department’s Special Investigations Unit (§ 2.2-3706 (A) (2)(b))
Law enforcement records containing specific tactical plans, the disclosure of which would jeopardize the safety or security of law enforcement personnel or the general public (§ 2.2-3706(A)(2)(e))
It is the general policy of the Department to invoke exemptions regarding security records whenever they apply to protect the security of its facilities and operations, and the security and safety of staff, offenders and the community.