FOIA Request to Lehigh County Sheriff's Office Regarding Arrest Records on October 22, 2024.
We at the Lehigh Times have submitted a request for arrest records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 §66.1 et seq., to the Lehigh County Sheriff's Office. Our request is for all arrest records from January 1, 2024, up until the present day.
The specific data points we have requested include arrestee name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship status, booking ID, date of arrest and booking photo. We also asked for information about the arresting officers' names, type of crime committed by the arrestee, location of the crime and date of the crime.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, 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.
We believe that as members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
This request has been made in an effort to provide our readers with a clear understanding of local law enforcement activities and trends. It is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure transparency in local government affairs and uphold our role as watchdogs of public institutions.
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