A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Washington County Sheriff's Office regarding arrest records on October 22, 2024. The request was made by Southwest PA News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability, we sought access to all arrest records from January 1, 2024, to the present day. We requested these records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 §66.1 et seq., preferably in an electronic format for ease of analysis and reporting.
The specific data points we asked for include the arrestee's name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship status, booking ID, date of arrest and booking photo. We also requested information about the arresting officer(s), type of crime committed, location of the crime and date of the crime.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities 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 a media professional.
We remain committed to serving our community by ensuring that information about law enforcement activities is accessible and transparent. As always, we will continue striving towards enhancing civic life through accurate reporting on local governmental affairs.
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