7(1)(e)

FOIA

Correctional/detention facility security records

Read the full statute text on /statutes →

Jump to the 5 issues decided under this provision, with a drafting brief ↓

2 upheld (no violation found) · 1 rejected (violation found) · 1 closed / insufficient info / other, out of 4 documents.

Not legal advice, and not a per-exemption ruling — this reflects each document's overall disposition. See the FAQ disclaimer.

How the Public Access Counselor has treated 7(1)(e)

Section 7(1)(e) addresses records that relate to or affect the security of correctional institutions and detention facilities. In these matters it was invoked for jail surveillance and booking-area video and for portions of a mental health center policy that the public body described as sensitive security information.

The Public Access Counselor upheld withholding of jail video where review showed release would reveal camera coverage, blind spots, layout details, or otherwise compromise facility security. In one matter involving a death in custody, footage was withheld in part on this basis alongside another exemption. By contrast, the Counselor found improper the redaction of parts of the requested mental health center policy, concluding the exemption did not support those withholdings.

At a glance: 4 documents(0 binding opinions, 4 determination letters). Most often cited alongside: 7(1)(d)(iv) (Would disclose a confidential source or informant) (1).

Recurring issues

Whether release of jail surveillance footage would reveal camera coverage, blind spots, or layout details that compromise jail security. (Jail surveillance video footage, Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area, Surveillance footage of a jail booking area)
Whether video of a jail booking area is covered because it would disclose security details about the facility. (Surveillance footage of a jail booking area)
Whether portions of a mental health center policy contain sensitive security information justifying redaction. (Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center)
Whether a public body may provide only part of the requested video or policies while withholding other portions under this exemption. (Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center, Jail surveillance video footage)

Practical points

A public body withholding jail video under this exemption should be prepared to show how release would expose blind spots, layout, or other security details.
A requester seeking jail surveillance or booking footage may still receive non-exempt portions where the public body releases video in part.
Redactions to facility policies under this exemption were not sustained where the security connection was not established.

Summary drafted from the linked decisions and checked against them; read the decisions themselves before relying on it. Not legal advice.

All 4 documents citing 7(1)(e)

Issues decided under 7(1)(e)

Individual questions the Public Access Bureau decided under this provision, with the rule it applied, grouped by outcome. Extracted automatically from the letters; check each source letter.

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: Internal policies and incident reporting proced…
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: Internal policies and incident reporting proced… · Internal policies and incident reporting proced…

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: Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area · Surveillance footage of a jail booking area · 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: Internal policies and incident reporting proced…

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: Internal policies and incident reporting proced…
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: Internal policies and incident reporting proced… · Internal policies and incident reporting proced…

Common mistakes

Assuming that any record related to a correctional facility is exempt under section 7(1)(e).Based on: Internal policies and incident reporting proced…
Failing to distinguish between general incident response policies and specific security procedures when claiming or challenging an exemption.Based on: Internal policies and incident reporting proced… · Internal policies and incident reporting proced…
Arguing that jail video footage is always public without considering whether it reveals blind spots or internal layout.Based on: Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area · Surveillance footage of a jail booking area · 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.

TOPIC: 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(e) - Correctional/detention facility security records
SOURCE: Illinois Attorney General Public Access Bureau decisions compiled at https://illinoisfoia.org/exemptions/7-1-e/
NOTE: Determination letters are not binding precedent; they show how the Bureau applies the law. Verify every decision against the source PDF before citing it.

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).
  Decision: Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center (non-binding determination letter, January 21, 2020) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/

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.
  Decision: Surveillance footage of a jail booking area (non-binding determination letter, June 18, 2025) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-87081/
- 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.
  Decision: Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area (non-binding determination letter, July 31, 2025) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86749/
- 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.
  Decision: Jail surveillance video footage (non-binding determination letter, September 23, 2024) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81194/
- 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.
  Decision: Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center (non-binding determination letter, January 21, 2020) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/

MOST-CITED AUTHORITIES: Glynn v. Dep't of Corrections, 2023 IL App (1st) 211657; Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 40573; Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 36649

TASK FOR THE ASSISTANT: Using only the decisions above, help draft a letter. Argue from the rule and cite the decision by name and date. Do not invent decisions.

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