Application For Public Access to Records

Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) provides the public with the right to access certain government records.

The New York State Legislature noted the purpose of FOIL:

"A free society is maintained when government is responsive and responsible to the public, and when the public is aware of governmental actions. The more open a government is with its citizenry, the greater the understanding and participation of the public in government."
New York State Public Officers Law §84

"The People's right to know the process of government decision making and the documents and statistics leading to determinations is basic to our society."
Resolution Nos. 152 (1975), 30 (1981), and 112 (2007), Genesee County Legislature

How to Submit a Request

Mail Request

If you wish to submit a FOIL request by mail, use this printable FOIL request form (PDF) (PDF, 90KB) and mail it to the appropriate department address.

For the Sheriff's Office, please use this Sheriff's Office FOIL request form (PDF) (PDF, 2MB).

When Requesting Records

• Include as much detail about the record as possible, such as relevant dates, names, and descriptions.
• Ensure that your request is not overly broad.
• Reasonably describe the records being requested.

If any portion of your request is denied, you will be informed in writing of the reasons for the denial and provided the name, address, and email address of the person or body to whom an appeal should be directed.

Online Request

Genesee County also offers the ability to submit FOIL requests online: