Office of Information Practices

U Memo 19-13
June 6, 2019
Investigation Report Denied in Its Entirety

During an investigation, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) could properly withhold all records of the investigation if: a) a law enforcement proceeding is pending or prospective, and b) disclosure of the records could reasonably be expected to cause articulable harm.  However, once the investigations have concluded, Requester may make a new request for the closed investigation files.  If so, then DOA may redact certain personal information falling within the privacy and frustration exceptions, such as the identity of witnesses and complainants in investigative reports, home addresses, direct work telephone numbers and email addresses, social security numbers, ethnicity, and dates of birth.