FOIA Request to Kent County Sheriff’s Office regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan by Great Lakes Wire, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to all arrest records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The requested data points include the arrestee’s name, sex, race, age, date of birth, and citizenship status. Additionally, the request asks for the booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type of crime committed, location of the crime, and date of the crime.
The requester emphasized that as a member of the media involved in news gathering and reporting to the public, access to these public records is crucial for maintaining transparency and holding public institutions accountable. The requester also indicated eligibility for a fee waiver due to their role as a media professional.
Furthermore, it was noted that the requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy. This non-profit organization assists media companies and advocacy groups in investigating government agencies using FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: 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.
