FOIA Request to Benton County Sheriff’s Department regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Benton County Sheriff’s Department in Indiana by Hoosier State Today. The request seeks comprehensive arrest records for the year 2023. The records requested include detailed information such as the name, sex, race, age, date of birth, and citizenship of the arrestees. Additionally, it requests booking IDs, dates of arrest, booking photos, names of arresting officers, types and locations of crimes committed, and dates of those crimes.
The request is made under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act ยง 5-14-3-1 et seq., with a preference for receiving the data in electronic format. As part of their journalistic duties, Hoosier State Today emphasizes that access to these public records is crucial for maintaining transparency and holding public institutions accountable. They also mention their eligibility for a fee waiver due to their status as a media organization.
The email notes that Hoosier State Today is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy. This non-profit organization aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on 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.
