JFK CASE: THE 201 SYSTEM
Declassified Document
Document Type: FOIA
Collection: FOIA Collection
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00550533
Release Decision: RIPPUB
Original Classification: U
Document Page Count: 19
Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
Document Release Date: March 18, 2025
Sequence Number:
Case Number: F-2022-01162
Publication Date: November 15, 1974
Summary
The document is a classified section (Chapter III, Annex B) from the CIA's Clandestine Services Handbook (DOHB 70-1-1), dated 15 November 1974, released under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Act of 1992. It details the "201 System," a method used by the Operations Directorate to identify, track, and manage information on individuals of operational interest. Key aspects include:
Purpose and Scope: The 201 system assigns unique identifiers (201 numbers, e.g., 201-1234567) to individuals of interest, such as prospective agents, subjects of counterintelligence (CI) investigations, or members of targeted groups. It facilitates filing, retrieval, and listing of pertinent data.
Components:
201 Number: A unique identifier for each individual.
201 Dossier: A file containing biographic and operational data (e.g., Form 831, reports, photos).
Master 201 Record: A machine-readable record for indexing and retrieval.
OI Codes: Two-letter codes linking individuals to organizations or intelligence activities.
Machine Listings: Lists generated from the system, sortable by various criteria (e.g., name, OI code, country).
Opening a 201 Dossier: Initiated by operational components with Information Services Group (ISG) coordination. Criteria include subjects of operational approvals, CI reporting, or significant documentation (e.g., five or more documents in the Main Index). Specific categories for automatic openings are listed (e.g., Egyptian diplomats, Soviet officials).
Contents and Maintenance: Dossiers contain biographic data, operational approvals, and other relevant materials. Maintenance involves periodic purging of duplicates and sensitive handling of classified documents (e.g., black-taped envelopes for RYBAT or P&L sensitivity).
Access and Restrictions: Dossiers can be restricted to limit access, either held at a desk or in Central Files with a File Restriction Notice (Form 2021). Requests for restricted files are routed through the restricting desk.
Cancellation and Listings: Files can be canceled by a Records Officer, with records reclassified or destroyed. Machine listings (standard and non-standard) provide detailed breakdowns of 201 personalities, issued semi-annually or on-demand.
Automatic Openings: Attachment 2 lists categories for automatic 201 dossier creation, including diplomats and intelligence officers from countries like Egypt, the British Commonwealth, Cuba, Israel, North Vietnam, and the USSR.
IDN Numbers: Identification Numbers (IDN) are temporary placeholders for personalities with insufficient data for a full 201 file, convertible to 201 numbers if a dossier is opened.
The document emphasizes security, procedural rigor, and the system's role in supporting clandestine operations by tracking key personalities efficiently.
