Request for death records

The Office of the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is in receipt of your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act (the "Act"). Your request has been received in this office on 8/18/2022 and given the reference number R002020-081822 for tracking purposes. Records Requested: To Whom it May Concern:

This is a request pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. We are requesting death records dating from January 1, 2020, to the date this request is ultimately fulfilled, with the following information for each case:

- decedent name
- case number
- decedent name
- date of death
- location of death
- race
- ethnicity
- age
- gender
- occupation/industry
- whether injury/infection occurred at work
- incident location (street address, city, state, ZIP where injury/infection occurred)
- incident date
- decedent residence (street address, city, state, ZIP)
- cause(s) of death (indicating if COVID related)
- contributing factors
- any other accessible, non-exempt information contained in electronic case records

This request is part of an ongoing collaboration involving the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University, the MuckRock Foundation and partner newsrooms across the country. This request is part of a news-gathering process and is intended for educational, not commercial use.

We request expedited processing to the extent possible. This information is critical to the public’s understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and its local impact on public health. Let us know if we can help clarify this request in any way. Please also consider waiving any fees for producing the requested records. Please provide the data in spreadsheet format as an email attachment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. We look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

--

Derek Kravitz
2950 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
derek.kravitz@columbia.edu

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant department(s) to locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request. You will be contacted about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed.
Thank you,
Rachel

--- Please respond above this line ---

August 24, 2022
RE: FOIA # R002020-081822
Dear Mr. Kravitz,
The Office of the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is in receipt of your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act (the "Act").
On August 18, 2022, we received your request for the following:
To Whom it May Concern:

This is a request pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. We are requesting death records dating from January 1, 2020, to the date this request is ultimately fulfilled, with the following information for each case:

- decedent name
- case number
- decedent name
- date of death
- location of death
- race
- ethnicity
- age
- gender
- occupation/industry
- whether injury/infection occurred at work
- incident location (street address, city, state, ZIP where injury/infection occurred)
- incident date
- decedent residence (street address, city, state, ZIP)
- cause(s) of death (indicating if COVID related)
- contributing factors
- any other accessible, non-exempt information contained in electronic case records

This request is part of an ongoing collaboration involving the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University, the MuckRock Foundation and partner newsrooms across the country. This request is part of a news-gathering process and is intended for educational, not commercial use.

We request expedited processing to the extent possible. This information is critical to the public’s understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and its local impact on public health. Let us know if we can help clarify this request in any way. Please also consider waiving any fees for producing the requested records. Please provide the data in spreadsheet format as an email attachment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. We look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Records responsive to your request are available for you to download online at the following link. Please be advised that home addresses have been redacted, pursuant to sections 7(1)(b) and 2(c-5) of the Act. 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(b); 2(c-5).
Pursuant to section 9 of the Act, please note that the undersigned is responsible for this partial denial.  You have a right to have the denial of your request reviewed by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.  5 ILCS 140/9.5(a).  You can file your Request for Review with the PAC by writing to: FOIA Request - R002020-081822
Public Access Counselor
Office of the Attorney General
500 South 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Fax: (217) 782-1396
E-mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us
You also have the right to seek judicial review of your denial by filing a lawsuit in the State circuit court. 5 ILCS 140/11.

If you choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within 60 calendar days of the date of this denial letter.  5 ILCS 140/9.5(a).  Please note that you must include hard copies of your original FOIA requests and this denial letter when filing a Request for Review with the PAC.
Thank you,
Antonio
Antonio Favela
Assistant Special Legal Counsel & FOIA Officer
Office of the President
(O) 312-603-8268
antonio.favela@cookcountyil.gov