A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Sauk County Sheriff's Department regarding arrest records on October 22, 2024. The request was made by SW Wisconsin News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request, made under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., sought all arrest records from January 1, 2024, to the present day. Specifically, the request asked for the following data points if available: arrestee name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship; booking ID; date of arrest; booking photo; name(s) of arresting officer(s); type and location of crime; and date of crime.
As members of the media at SW Wisconsin News, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
The Sauk County Sheriff's Department has yet to respond to this FOIA request.
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