A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania on October 22, 2024. The request was made by North Pocono News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability, we sought all arrest records from January 1, 2024, to the present day. We requested these records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, with a preference for electronic format delivery.
The data points we asked for include the arrestee’s name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship status as well as the booking ID. We also requested information about the date of arrest and booking photo. Additional details such as the names of arresting officers and specifics about the crime including its type, location and date were also part of our request.
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 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 bringing you accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs and will continue seeking necessary information that promotes transparency and accountability within our community.
