South West Illinois News

FOIA Request to Randolph County Sheriff's Office regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Randolph County Sheriff's Office in Illinois on September 24, 2025. The request seeks comprehensive data on all arrest records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, specifically referencing statute 5 ILCS 140.

The requested information includes several data points: the name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), and citizenship status of each arrestee. Additionally, it seeks details such as the booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type and location of crime committed, and the date of the crime.

The requestor is a news reporter from SW Illinois News. As a media professional dedicated to providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, they emphasize that access to public records is crucial for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. They have also requested a fee waiver due to their role in disseminating information to the public.

The email notes that the requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found at 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.