The U.S. Department of Justice has been ordered to release information previously blacked out about violent gangs and terrorist organizations.

U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik ordered the release following a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sought details from the Violent Gang and Terrorist Organizations File maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s National Criminal Information Center.

The ACLU first requested the records in 2008, but the FBI refused. Eventually, the agency released 13,088 pages of documents, as well as two cassette tapes and a DVD. But it redacted another 4,952 pages and a second DVD and withheld 425 pages all together. The ACLU asked for access to the remaining, censored files.

Following his review of the records in question, Lasnik ordered the FBI to release the documents within two weeks. He did allow some redactions to remain in place on grounds that the details disclosed law enforcement techniques that were too sensitive for the public to see.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Justice Dept. Must Turn Over Full Gang Records (by William Dotinga, Courthouse News Service)

ACLU v. Department of Justice In Camera Review (U.S. District Court, Western Washington, Seattle) (pdf)

ACLU v. Department of Justice Summary Judgment (U.S. District Court, Western Washington, Seattle) (pdf)