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Helpful Tips
Before filing a FOIL request, review the caveats below.
Records Maintained by OCFS
Be aware of what records OCFS does and does not maintain.
Records Related to Reports of Child Abuse or Maltreatment
If you are requesting records related to reports of child abuse and maltreatment in New York State, you will need to sign into the OCFS Request For Information (RFI) Portal using your NY.gov account at:
If you do not have a NY.gov account, click on the Create an Account link and follow the instructions to register your new account. Once you are signed into the OCFS RFI Portal, you will be prompted for information that will be needed to process your request.
These records are not releasable under FOIL. If you submit a request through FOIL for child abuse or maltreatment records, your request will be denied and you will be sent the above information that describes how to request these types of records.
Records for Youth in Custody
If you are requesting records of youth currently or formerly in the custody of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, send your request in writing to the Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth at the following address:
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth
52 Washington Street
North Building, Room 145 North
Rensselaer, NY 12144
If these records are requested through FOIL, the request will be denied pursuant to Executive Law section 501-c and you will be directed to follow the above process.
Help Decrease the Processing Time
When submitting a records request, the following suggestions may decrease the processing time:
- Make sure you are asking for specific records and not abstract ideas. Describe desired record(s) in as much detail as possible so that we can attempt to identify and locate the exact record(s) responsive to your request. Identifying incidents by their locations is essential; also include complete names, dates of birth, other relevant dates, descriptions, addresses, and any other identifying data.
- Please provide your name, address and phone number where you can be reached during business hours, as well as an email address with any FOIL request submitted to OCFS.
- Specify whether you would like to inspect the records or have copies of the records sent to you through email or hardcopy.
- If records are available, specify how you want them sent, i.e., via US mail, email or fax. We may choose to send the records by US mail, if you have requested a large volume of records, for security or other important reasons.
- Please note that the agency is not required to create a new record in response to your FOIL requests.
- Please also note that under FOIL an agency is not required to respond to a request in the form of a question. Please refrain from submitting requests that are questions, as you will receive a clarification letter immediately from the agency asking what type of record you are seeking.
- Once you submit a request, please refrain from emailing or calling and adding additional records to an already existing request. You will be directed to submit a separate request for additional records.
- Refrain from calling or writing for the status of a request. Checking on the status takes time away from processing the hundreds of requests received each month. If you do not receive a written response within five (5) business days (allow for postal transit time) please do contact us.
- Review the exemptions described in the Public Officers Law, Article 6, Sections 87 and 89 for an understanding of possible redactions or denials of records.
For more information about FOIL, please visit the New York State Committee on Open Government’s website.