The F I’s prepublication

 review scheme

 Who has to submit? According to the Prepublication Review Policy Guide, all current and former employees and contractors. Under 28 C.F.R. § 17.18, only individuals granted access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).  What do they have to submit? According to the Prepublication Review Policy Guide, covered individuals must

submit all proposed disclosures of “any knowledge gained through FBI employment or assignments related to the FBI.”

  According to Form 4414, covered individuals must submit any information

“that contains or purports to contain any SCI or descri

ption of activities that produce or relate to SCI or that [they] have reason to believe are derived from

SCI.”

 Who will do the review? Section Chief, Records/Information Dissemination Section, Records Management Division  What are they reviewing for? 28 C.F.R. § 17.18(h) states

that review is “solely for the purpose of identifying

and preventing the disclosure of Sensitive Compartmented Information and

other classified information.”

The Prepublication Review Policy Guide, however, contemplates the redaction of far more, including anything that could be withheld by the government under the Freedom of Information Act. How long will it take? The regulation states that the RMD will respond substantively within 30 business days, b

ut the FBI’s guidelines

 state that 30 business days is

“unrealistic” for submissions that contain “operational or intelligence matters.”

 Is there a process for appealing censorship decisions?  Yes. Appeals are to the Deputy Attorney General, who will process appeals  within 15 days.