By the Numbers
Atlanta, GA
MSA Region
55,366
Residents
300
Average Records Requests
per Month
59
JustFOIA Users Across 38 Departments
Welcome to the City of Brookhaven, where we prioritize incredible digital experiences for our residents. One of our must-have digital services is JustFOIA for records requests. We spoke with systems analyst Cheryl Robinson-Smith who shared how easy it was to convince the City Clerk’s office to adopt JustFOIA. Within just a few months, they became fully comfortable with the solution.
The Police Department initially used an old-school spreadsheet solution for their records requests, but it eventually became overwhelming. They relied on one person to handle the requests, and when there was a change in staffing, a backlog of 400 requests quickly piled up.
Realizing they needed a better solution, they reached out to the clerk’s office for help. That’s when they discovered JustFOIA, a flexible and configurable system that could benefit both departments. They were able to create templates, streamline emails, and establish efficient workflows using the JustFOIA platform. In no time, they were caught up and back on track.
Now, the two departments efficiently process over 5,500 requests each year. This streamlined process has not only improved productivity but has also fostered trust and transparency within the local government agencies.
Citizen Experience
Building trust between local government and their constituents is crucial, and a focus on citizen experience is key. That’s why the first priority for the police department was to tackle their backlog. Thanks to this effort, the department now only has around 50 requests in their queue at any given time. This improvement allows for quicker response times and increased transparency for requesters.
Additionally, citizens are loving the user-friendly interface and convenient online payment options provided by JustFOIA. “Being able to pay online is a big hit,” Cheryl mentioned. “It saves people a trip to the police department, and they no longer have to wait in the lobby for their turn at the window.” As a bonus, the department has seen a significant increase in requester fees, resulting in thousands of additional dollars recouped.
