A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Lebanon County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania regarding arrest records on October 22, 2024. The request was made by us at Lebanon PA News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
We are seeking all arrest records from January 1, 2024, to the present day under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 §66.1 et seq. We have specifically requested for these records in an electronic format for ease of access and analysis.
The data points we have asked for include the arrestee’s name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship status, booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, name(s) of arresting officer(s), type of crime committed, location of crime and date of crime.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is crucial 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.
Our aim is always to keep our readers informed about their community and ensure that public institutions are held accountable. This information will help us continue that mission.
