[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 28, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 28CFR16.70]

[Page 294]
 
                    TITLE 28--JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
 
                    CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
 
PART 16_PRODUCTION OR DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION--Table of Contents
 
      Subpart E_Exemption of Records Systems Under the Privacy Act
 
Sec.  16.70  Exemption of the Office of the Attorney General System
--limited access.

    Source: Order No. 645-76, 41 FR 12640, Mar. 26, 1976, unless 
otherwise noted.


    (a) The following system of records is exempt from 5 U.S.C. 552a(c) 
(3) and (4); (d); (e) (1), (2) and (3), (e)(4) (G) and (H), (e)(5); and 
(g):
    (1) General Files System of the Office of the Attorney General 
(JUSTICE/OAG-001).


These exemptions apply only to the extent that information in the system 
is subject to exemption pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a (j)(2), (k)(1), 
(k)(2), and (k)(5).
    (b) Exemptions from the particular subsections are justified for the 
following reasons:
    (1) From subsection (c)(3) because making available to a record 
subject the accounting of disclosures from records concerning him/her 
would reveal investigative interest on the part of the Department of 
Justice as well as the recipient agency. This would permit record 
subjects to impede the investigation, e.g., destroy evidence, intimidate 
potential witnesses, or flee the area to avoid inquiries or apprehension 
by law enforcement personnel.
    (2) From subsection (c)(4) because this system is exempt from the 
access provisions of subsection (d) pursuant to subsections (j) and (k) 
of the Privacy Act.
    (3) From subsection (d) because the records contained in this system 
relate to official Federal investigations. Individual access to these 
records might compromise ongoing investigations, reveal confidential 
informants or constitute unwarranted invasions of the personal privacy 
of third parties who are involved in a certain investigation. Amendment 
of the records would interfere with ongoing criminal law enforcement 
proceedings and impose an impossible administrative burden by requiring 
criminal investigations to be continuously reinvestigated.
    (4) From subsections (e) (1) and (5) because in the course of law 
enforcement investigations, information may occasionally be obtained or 
introduced the accuracy of which is unclear or which is not strictly 
relevant or necessary to a specific investigation. In the interests of 
effective law enforcement, it is appropriate to retain all information 
that may aid in establishing patterns of criminal activity. Moreover, it 
would impede the specific investigative process if it were necessary to 
assure the relevance, accuracy, timeliness and completeness of all 
information obtained.
    (5) From subsection (e)(2) because in a law enforcement 
investigation the requirement that information be collected to the 
greatest extent possible from the subject individual would present a 
serious impediment to law enforcement in that the subject of the 
investigation would be informed of the existence of the investigation 
and would therefore be able to avoid detection, apprehension, or legal 
obligations of duties.
    (6) From subsection (e)(3) because to comply with the requirements 
of this subsection during the course of an investigation could impede 
the information gathering process, thus hampering the investigation.
    (7) From subsections (e)(4) (G) and (H) because this system is 
exempt from the access provisions of subsection (d) pursuant to 
subsections (j) and (k) of the Privacy Act.
    (8) From subsection (g) because this system is exempt from the 
access and amendment provisions of subsection (d) pursuant to 
subsections (j) and (k) of the Privacy Act.

[Order No. 31-85, 51 FR 751, Jan. 8, 1986]