A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Washington County Sheriff's office on January 7, 2025. The request was made by us at South Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, is for a list of all arrests that took place in the county from January 1, 2024, until December 31, 2024. We have asked for this information to be provided in an electronic format.
Specifically, we have requested the following details about each arrest: the arrestee's name, the date of their arrest, their gender and race, their date of birth, and the crime they were arrested for.
As a media organization committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public, access to such public records is crucial for us. It allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities effectively. In light of our role in disseminating information to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await a response from the Washington County Sheriff's office regarding this request.
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