A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office in Illinois on January 7, 2025. The request was made by us at East Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for a list of all arrests made in the county from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. The requested data includes specific fields such as the arrestee's name, date of arrest, gender, race, date of birth, and the crime committed.
As journalists at East Central Reporter, we believe access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we have also requested a fee waiver as media professionals under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
We will continue to work towards ensuring transparency and accountability in local government affairs through diligent reporting and investigation.
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