Galesburg Reporter

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

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Knox County Sheriff's Department by a representative from the Galesburg Reporter. The request seeks comprehensive arrest records for the year 2023, spanning from January 1 to December 31. The requested data includes detailed information 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 those crimes.

The requestor emphasized the importance of access to public records in fulfilling their role as a media professional responsible for holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. They also requested a fee waiver due to their status as a member of the media.

The individual making this request 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 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.