A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Forest County Sheriff’s Department regarding arrest records on October 22, 2024. The request was made by NE Wisconsin News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request specifically asked for all arrest records from January 1, 2024, to the present day. The desired data points included in the request were the arrestee’s name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship status, booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type of crime committed, location of the crime and date of the crime.
As a media organization dedicated to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public through news reporting, NE Wisconsin News has requested these records under the Wisconsin Open Records Law §19.31 et seq. The organization has also requested that these records be provided in an electronic format for ease of access and analysis.
NE Wisconsin News believes that access to such public records is essential for fulfilling its professional responsibilities. Given its role in disseminating information to the public and holding institutions accountable for their actions, it has requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
The Forest County Sheriff’s Department has yet to respond or provide any comments regarding this FOIA request.
