FOIA Request to Hardin County Sheriff’s Department regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A request for public records has been submitted to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The request was made by Southern Illinois News, a media organization dedicated to delivering comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to all arrest records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
The specific data points requested include the arrestee’s name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), and citizenship status. Additionally, information such as the booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type of crime committed, location of the crime, and date of the crime are also sought.
Southern Illinois News emphasized its role in gathering and reporting news to the public as part of its professional responsibilities. The organization aims to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. As a member of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit corporation that assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies—the news outlet has requested a fee waiver for this FOIA request.
The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy leverages Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to enhance transparency in government actions and inform the American electorate. More information about their mission 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.
