Rockford Sun

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

A request for information has been sent to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department by a representative of Rockford Sun, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request, made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), seeks access to all arrest records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The requested data includes detailed information such as the arrestee's name, sex, race, age, date of birth, citizenship status, booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type and location of crime, and date of crime.

The Rockford Sun emphasizes its role in gathering and reporting news to the public and highlights the importance of access to public records for transparency and accountability in government institutions. As part of this request, they have also sought a fee waiver due to their status as a media professional. The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.

For further details about The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy's mission and activities, interested parties can visit their website at 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.