A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office in Illinois on January 7, 2025. The request, submitted by NW Illinois News, sought comprehensive details about all arrests made within the county during the year 2024.
As a media organization dedicated to providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at NW Illinois News believe that access to such public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the benefit of the public.
The specific records requested under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, included a list of all arrests from January 1, 2024 till December 31, 2024. We asked for these records preferably in an electronic format and with the following fields:
- Arrestee Name
- Arrest Date
- Arrestee Gender
- Arrestee Race
- Arrestee's Date of Birth
- Crime Committed
Given our role in gathering and disseminating information to the public, we also stated our belief that we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. As always, we remain committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
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