The DOJ-361 form, formally the Certification of Identity, is the one-page document you use to prove who you are when you ask the U.S. Department of Justice for records about yourself under the Privacy Act of 1974. You can download it from the DOJ website or request a paper copy from the FOIA/PA Mail Referral Unit in Washington, D.C.1eCFR. 28 CFR 16.41 – Privacy Act Requests for Access to Records Completing it takes a few minutes. The two things that trip people up are the authentication step at the bottom and knowing which DOJ office to mail the finished form to.
When You Need to Use It
Any DOJ component — the FBI, DEA, Bureau of Prisons, or another division — has to verify your identity before releasing personal files about you. That is what DOJ-361 is for.2National Archives. Guide to Making a Privacy Act Request The regulation does not actually require this exact form; a letter containing the same information with a proper signature works too.1eCFR. 28 CFR 16.41 – Privacy Act Requests for Access to Records The form is convenient because it prompts you for every element the agency needs.
One boundary worth knowing before you start: the Privacy Act only covers U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. If you are neither, DOJ will still process your request, but under the Freedom of Information Act instead. FOIA has different withholding rules and fee rules.3United States Department of Justice. Certification of Identity Form
Filling In the Fields
The form asks for a short list of details. Each one has a small catch worth knowing.
For full name, use the legal name that would appear on the records you’re seeking, not a nickname or a name you adopted later. If your name has changed, list both the current name and the one under which the records were filed.
Citizenship status determines whether your request runs under the Privacy Act or FOIA, so check the box that fits.
Your Social Security Number is voluntary. The form itself warns that without it, DOJ “may be unable to locate any or all records pertaining to you.”3United States Department of Justice. Certification of Identity Form If your name is common, including the SSN meaningfully improves your chances of getting the right file.
For current address, a street address is better than a P.O. Box, because some components send records by certified mail.
Date and place of birth are both required and help distinguish you from people with similar names.
Every field other than the SSN should be complete. The form’s instructions warn that blank fields can prevent DOJ from responding effectively.3United States Department of Justice. Certification of Identity Form
Authenticating Your Signature
A signature alone is not enough. DOJ requires one of two forms of authentication before it will accept the form.1eCFR. 28 CFR 16.41 – Privacy Act Requests for Access to Records
Signing Under Penalty of Perjury
The faster and free option. The bottom of DOJ-361 carries a pre-printed declaration: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct, and that I am the person named above.” Sign and date below that language and the form is complete. No notary is needed. This substitution is authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 1746, which lets an unsworn written declaration stand in for notarization wherever federal law calls for a verified statement.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1746 – Unsworn Declarations Under Penalty of Perjury
Notarization
The other option is to sign in front of a notary public, who then applies a seal, signs, and records their commission expiration date. Bring government-issued photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, or passport. Notary fees vary by state but are usually modest, often under $15 for a single signature. Banks, UPS stores, and law offices commonly offer notary services.
The regulation also mentions that some DOJ components may accept approved digital identity verification services as a third option, though availability depends on which office is handling your request.1eCFR. 28 CFR 16.41 – Privacy Act Requests for Access to Records
Releasing Records to Someone Else
The bottom of DOJ-361 has an optional authorization section. If you want DOJ to send your records to an attorney, family member, or anyone else, fill in that person’s name and sign the authorization line. This is separate from the identity certification, so you still need to authenticate the form itself using one of the two methods above.
If a parent or legal guardian is requesting records for a minor or someone who cannot act on their own behalf, DOJ needs proof of the legal relationship: a birth certificate, court-issued guardianship order, or power of attorney. Attach certified copies, not originals, because agencies generally do not return submitted documents.
Where to Send the Completed Form
This is where most delays happen. DOJ is not a single office. Dozens of components each keep their own records, and DOJ-361 needs to go to the specific one that holds the files you want. FBI records live at the FBI, DEA records live at the DEA. DOJ publishes a contact list for all components at justice.gov.5United States Department of Justice. DOJ Privacy Act Requests
If you aren’t sure which component has your records, send the form to the central referral unit:
FOIA/PA Mail Referral Unit
Department of Justice
Room 115, LOC Building
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Phone: (202) 616-3837
Email: MRUFOIA.Requests@usdoj.gov
The referral unit will route your request, but that adds processing time. If you can identify the right component yourself, send it directly.
Many components also accept Privacy Act requests electronically, through online portals or email. Check the component’s contact page for its preferred submission method. Some still require a mailed original with a wet signature or notary seal.
What It Costs
DOJ does not charge search fees for Privacy Act requests for your own records. Duplication runs five cents per page, and if the total comes in under $25, the fee is waived.6United States Department of Justice. Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide For most individual requests, you’ll pay nothing or close to it.
If you expect a large volume of records and want to cap costs, put a maximum dollar amount you’re willing to pay in your request letter. The agency will not exceed that ceiling without contacting you for written approval first. Public-interest fee waivers exist, but DOJ’s guidance notes that requests for your own records rarely qualify, because the disclosure benefits you personally rather than informing the public about government operations.6United States Department of Justice. Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide
Penalties for False Information
The form itself spells out two separate penalties for dishonesty. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, a false statement on the form is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.3United States Department of Justice. Certification of Identity Form Requesting or obtaining records under false pretenses is a separate violation of the Privacy Act, carrying a fine of up to $5,000.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 552a – Records Maintained on Individuals The two can stack. Lying about your identity to pull someone else’s files exposes you to charges under both statutes.