16 September 2010

A sends:

CIA RECORDS DATABASE AVAILABLE FOR INQUIRIES

The Central Intelligence Agency maintains a very high quality records system
called ARCINS, the Agency Records and Information System.  ARCINS contains
subject listings down to the folder level of more than 34 million records.

Requesters seeking records under either the Freedom of Information Act or
under the provisions of Mandatory Declassification Review can specify a
search of ARCINS when contacting the CIA.  Such a request will aid the
agency in processing requests more efficiently.

If you wish to submit a request, simply identify the relevant keywords and
submit a request to the following address, asking that the agency conduct a
search of ARCINS.

Information and Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Or FAX:  703-613-3007

The agency says on its website:

The FOIA is designed to permit requesters to obtain information from the
Government on subjects in which they are interested. Sharply focused and
specific requests will facilitate the Agency's processing of your request by
helping us to identify those records systems likely to contain information
responsive to the request and to identify any responsive materials the
Agency may have previously released. The FOIA does not require agencies to
answer questions or do research.

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As noted on the CIA website, the CIA prefers to receive sharply focused and
specific requests.  Requesters may submit a request for a search of the
ARCINS database for records with specific keywords or subject matter.  You
can also specify records of a particular timeframe, such as all reports from
a particular Month and Year.

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The following additional details are taken from the report of the Advisory
Committee on Human Radiation Experiments, and are provided for background.

Director of Central Intelligence Area. The files under the control of the
DCI are in paper from years 1947-80 and are indexed in ARCINS.

Directorate of Science and Technology.  The files under the control of the
DST are also indexed in ARCINS.

Directorate of Intelligence.  The DI has three central databases which are
computerized index systems of raw and finished intelligence reports, as well
as two hard copy indices.  The former are queried by subject categories,
area codes, and/or key words.

Directorate of Administration.  The DA's files are indexed primarily by
name.

Directorate of Operations.  The DO has an automated index system that
contains subject files and personality flies.

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