Trent Masterson, Sheriff at Lawrence County Sheriff | https://lawrencecounty.illinois.gov/
Trent Masterson, Sheriff at Lawrence County Sheriff | https://lawrencecounty.illinois.gov/
FOIA Request to Lawrence County Sheriff regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office in Illinois by East Central Reporter. The request seeks comprehensive arrest records for the entire year of 2023. The information requested includes detailed data points such as the arrestee's name, sex, race, age, date of birth, and citizenship status. Additionally, the request asks for booking IDs, dates of arrest, booking photos, names of arresting officers, types and locations of crimes committed, and dates of these crimes.
The request emphasizes the importance of access to public records for media professionals who are responsible for gathering and reporting news to the public. The East Central Reporter is seeking this information to ensure transparency and accountability within public institutions. As a member of the media affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization that aids in investigating governmental agencies—the requester has also asked for a fee waiver.
The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy is dedicated to leveraging Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to promote transparency in government actions. More details about their mission can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
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