OpenDOJ Browse Popular ideas

In the wake of the Citizens United case, and the legitimate concern that the door might be open for foreign influence on the U.S. political process, improving the online data released from the disclosures that the Foreign Agent Registration Act—passed in 1938—requires. While the Foreign Agent Registration Unit is to be commended for getting some of this information online (here: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fara/),... more »

It'd be a lot easier to get information from DOJ if we didn't have to ask for a new FOIA every time. I mean, if someone has already asked for something from you guys once, should I really have to ask for it again? Not to mention, expecting expensive government employees to do the whole thing over again.

Given the fundamental contribution that the FOIA makes to transparent government, the ready access to concrete data about agency FOIA performance, and the opportunity to improve FOIA administration, FOIA should be a significant part of any federal open government dashboard.
As we are sure you appreciate, the FOIA is at the core of the public’s right to know what the government is doing. The FOIA cannot be dismantled... more »

I am starting this new openness idea because another thread here has a confusing title. The other thread is titled "Enforce Existing Laws."

Organized stalking (OS) is the commission of acts similar to single stalker stalking, but by groups organized to carry out such acts. Organized stalking can include some through wall electronic harassment and surveillance using ordinary, not classified technologies which are available... more »

Legislation has already been introduced that would go a long way in increasing transparency, and in returning the Balance and Separation of powers between the branches of our government.

It used to be that Courts, off the record, evaluated whether evidence constituted a "state secret" that prevented it from being given in a trial. The last 8+ years, however, "state secret" has been used to keep a trial from happening... more »

The Department of Justice should live webcast all meetings for proposed rule making and regulations where the public comment should take place. They should make these meetings available for on demand viewing and have the ability to have that content be indexed for video search. By doing this the public and stakeholders will be able to see the inner workings of the rule making process and make the content and proceedings... more »

It's important for accountability that members of the press and public are able to access and manipulate federal case data. Make all data exportable in XML and CSV formats

Proposal to Close Loopholes

Create a new area or program or department that will do nothing more than work toward refining law so that it actually works in a way that protects the victim and prosecutes the offender. Currently, the whistle blower laws are not being enforced effectively. Currently, organized stalkers, pedophiles and human traffickers operate in such a way that behind fake immunity, fake diplomatic gratuity... more »

Many citizens are extremely upset with the Department of Justice's failure to investigate and prosecute clear violations of the law. A few the things we are incensed about are these: The failure to prosecute those who have supported torture with insupportable legal opinions, those who ordered torture and other war crime behaviors, and those who have committed torture and other war crime behaviors, past and present. The... more »

The GOP has a database of earmarks.

The collected data for earmarks should also be made available for download.

This will allow the data to be analyzed.

For example, an earmark may be important at a local level but at a national level a project that generates revenue, reduces energy usage, increases domestic power generation, etc. is more important.

Investing in projects that generate revenue for the government means... more »

I am a contracting employee stationed at DOJ. Both my employer and DOJ contracting personnel have refused to allow me to see the contract I work under. If contracting emplyees could see their applicable contracts, they could advise DOJ as to whether it was being adhered to and what learn what their rights and obligations are under that contract.

I would like to see a breakdown state-by-state of any violations our state government has made with links to responses by the DOJ and state agencies.

At a minimum, I would like to see current and upcoming projects summary with high level budget information so we know where the most money is being spent, including money spent on operations.

We should address the issue of political appointments in the area of federal law enforcement. I think those agencies that still fall victim to congressional political appointment every four years will continue to remain behind the bell curve of advancement. I don’t think we should appoint someone to head federal law enforcement agencies, if that person doesn’t have an effective work history within that agency. I don’t... more »

Background: The Bureau of Prisons manages over 200,000 inmates, about one tenth of whom, as employees of Federal Prison Industries (FPI), are currently productively engaged in manufacturing. All of us have a fundamental need to play a meaningful role in society, and prison inmates are no exception. Learning how to play a constructive role in society is a key element of rehabilitation. In many cases inmates have never... more »