{
 "topic": "FOIA section 7(1)(e) - Correctional/detention facility security records",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/7(1)(e)",
 "family": "FOIA exemptions (section 7)",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-7-1-e/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 1,
  "no_violation": 4,
  "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 record is a general routine incident response policy, not a specific security procedure.",
    "why": "General incident response information does not pose a security risk under section 7(1)(e), so withholding it violates FOIA.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The record does not contain specific security measures like contraband search or medication security protocols.",
    "why": "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.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "when_the_body_usually_wins": [
   {
    "text": "The record is video footage of a detention facility that reveals blind spots or internal layout.",
    "why": "Such footage could be exploited by inmates and poses a potential security risk, so the exemption applies.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86749/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Surveillance footage of a jail booking area",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-87081/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Jail surveillance video footage",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81194/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The record is a policy specifically about security measures like contraband search or medication security.",
    "why": "Disclosure of these policies would jeopardize the security of a correctional or detention facility, so they are exempt.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "points_to_put_in_the_letter": [
   {
    "text": "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).",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "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.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "facts_to_gather": [
   "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."
  ],
  "common_mistakes": [
   {
    "text": "Assuming that any record related to a correctional facility is exempt under section 7(1)(e).",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Failing to distinguish between general incident response policies and specific security procedures when claiming or challenging an exemption.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Arguing that jail video footage is always public without considering whether it reveals blind spots or internal layout.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86749/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Surveillance footage of a jail booking area",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-87081/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Jail surveillance video footage",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81194/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "caution": "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."
 },
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "Withholding jail booking video under security exemption",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "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": {
    "title": "Surveillance footage of a jail booking area",
    "date": "2025-06-18",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-87081/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 40573",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 36649",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 58417",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Withholding jail dayroom video under section 7(1)(e)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "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": {
    "title": "Jail surveillance footage from a dayroom area",
    "date": "2025-07-31",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86749/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Glynn v. Dep't of Corrections",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "2023 IL App (1st) 211657",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2023%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20211657/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Withholding jail video under section 7(1)(e)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "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": {
    "title": "Jail surveillance video footage",
    "date": "2024-09-23",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-81194/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Glynn v. Dep't of Corrections, 2023 IL App (1st) 211657",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2023%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20211657/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 40573",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 36649",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redactions of contraband search and medication security policies",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Section 7(1)(e) exempts records whose disclosure would jeopardize the security of a correctional or detention facility.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
    "date": "2020-01-21",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 32159",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 35184",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redactions of incident response policy",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "General routine incident response information does not pose a security risk and is not exempt under section 7(1)(e).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Internal policies and incident reporting procedures for a mental health center",
    "date": "2020-01-21",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51630/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  }
 ]
}