City of Richmond begins piloting new FOIA software
New platform will increase transparency, save staff time, and improve the customer experience for requestors
Richmond, VA — In celebration of Sunshine Week, the City of Richmond is incredibly excited to begin piloting a new, citywide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) platform: JustFOIA. This platform provides an easy-to-use interface for both requestors and the City’s FOIA officers who fulfill those requests. JustFOIA handles the entire request lifecycle, from the initial request, to collecting responsive records, redaction, review, and (if necessary) payment. While other methods for submitting requests are still available (in-person, by phone), the City is excited to offer a more convenient option.
“I'm proud of the work we’ve done to improve the City’s approach to FOIA over the last year. We’ve increased training across the organization, solidified our cross-departmental procedures, and I’ve made it abundantly clear to department leadership that FOIA is not only just a legal requirement but a responsibility we need to take seriously,” said Mayor Danny Avula.
The full, public launch will take place this Maymand will include the establishment of the City’s FOIA Library, as required by the ORD. 2025-240, introduced by the Mayor last year. The FOIA Library will make frequently requested records and records of public interest easily available, free of charge.
“I’m stoked to cut the ribbon on JustFOIA in the next couple of weeks! I want to thank the City’s FOIA Manager and our Department of Information Technology for all the hard work that went into getting this new platform ready to launch,” said Ross Catrow, Director of the Office of Strategic Communications . “I’ve been a part of Richmond’s media landscape for a long time, and it means a lot to me to contribute to making the City’s government more open and transparent.”
FOIA by the numbers
Over the last several months, the number of requests the City has taken an extension on has decreased, and the vast majority of the City’s requests are completed on time.
| Month | # FOIA Requests | % with Extension | % Completed on Time |
| July | 492 | 43.60% | 92.20% |
| August | 523 | 42.06% | 98.09% |
| September | 420 | 39.70% | 97.60% |
| October | 459 | 34.64% | 97.16% |
| November | 409 | 35.70% | 86.55% * |
| December | 483 | 19.88% | 84.89% * |
| January | 491 | 25.86% | 96.33% |
| February | 467 | 32.76% | 89.29% * |
About JustFOIA
JustFOIA enables agencies to better serve their community by simplifying records request management. JustFOIA manages every step of the process from intake to delivery, saving valuable time through automating repetitive tasks, reminders, and communication with requesters and responders.
About Sunshine Week
Sunshine Week occurs each year in mid-March, coinciding with James Madison’s birthday, March 16 (1751). Madison was a driving force behind the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and presented the first version of the Bill of Rights to Congress. He also was the fourth president of the United States. Sunshine Week helps educate the public, journalists, lawmakers, and others on the right to know in the U.S. states and federal government.
