§ 7.75 - Records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes.

(a) Files compiled for law enforcement purposes by the Department or any other Federal, State, or local agency, including those files compiled for the enforcement of regulations, are within the statutory exemption to the extent that production of such records or information could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings; would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication; could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source and, in the case of a record compiled for a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigation, or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a confidential source; would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law; or could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual.

(b) The purpose of this section is to protect law enforcement files from premature disclosure, including files prepared in connection with related judicial or administrative proceedings. It includes the enforcement not only of criminal statutes but all kinds of laws and regulations.