A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Jersey County Sheriff Department on January 7, 2025. The request was made by us at Metro East Sun, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request sought access to all arrest records from the year 2024. The requested data fields included the arrestee’s name, arrest date, gender, race, date of birth, and the crime committed.
As a media organization, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. 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.
We believe that as a media organization actively disseminating information to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
We await the response from the Jersey County Sheriff Department regarding this FOIA request. We will continue our efforts in ensuring transparency and accountability in local government affairs through diligent reporting and analysis.
