Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests
Cost and Exemptions
Request Records
The Office of Children’s Services (OCS) is committed to openness and transparency and strictly complies with FOIA (§2.2-3700 through §2.2-3714 of the Code of Virginia). In the interest of open government, OCS works in a spirit of cooperation with FOIA requesters.
Cost and Exemptions
Cost
- You may have to pay for the records that you request from OCS. FOIA allows public bodies to charge for the actual costs of responding to FOIA requests. This would include items like staff time spent searching for the requested records, copying costs, or any other costs directly related to supplying the requested records. It cannot include general overhead costs.
- If we estimate that it will cost more than $200 to respond to your request, we may require you to pay a deposit before proceeding with your request.
- You may request that we estimate in advance the charges for supplying the records that you have requested. This will allow you to know about any costs upfront, or give you the opportunity to modify your request in an attempt to lower the estimated costs.
Exemptions
The Code of Virginia allows any public body to withhold certain records from public disclosure based upon certain legal exemptions. OCS commonly withholds records subject to the following exemptions:
- Personnel records (§ 2.2-3705.1 (1) of the Code of Virginia)
- Records subject to attorney-client privilege (§ 2.2-3705.1 (2)) or attorney work product (§ 2.2-3705.1 (3))
- Vendor proprietary information (§ 2.2-3705.1 (6))
- Records relating to the negotiation and award of a contract, prior to a contract being awarded (§ 2.2-3705.1 (12))
- Records generated by local FAPT teams and temporarily in the possession of the Office (§ 2.2-3703.3) unless related to aggregate data that does not identify individual children or families.
- Medical and Mental records (§ 2.2-3705 (5)) unless related to aggregate data that does not identify individual children or families.