Steve Stovall, Sheriff at Stephenson County | Official facebook
Steve Stovall, Sheriff at Stephenson County | Official facebook
FOIA Request to Stephenson County Sheriff regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Stephenson County Sheriff's Office by NW Illinois News, seeking comprehensive data on all arrests made throughout the year 2023. The request aims to obtain detailed records including personal and procedural information related to each arrest. Specifically, the requested data points include the arrestee's name, sex, race, age, date of birth, and citizenship status. Additionally, the request seeks booking IDs, dates of arrest, booking photos, names of arresting officers, types of crimes committed, locations and dates of crimes.
The purpose behind this request is rooted in NW Illinois News' commitment to transparency and accountability in local governmental affairs. As a media organization dedicated to providing accurate news coverage, access to these public records is crucial for their reporting responsibilities. The organization has also requested a fee waiver based on their role as a media entity.
Furthermore, NW Illinois News is associated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization that supports media companies and advocacy groups in investigating government actions through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website here.
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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