FOIA Request to Burnett County Sheriff’s Office regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin on September 24, 2025. The request seeks access to all arrest records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The requested data points include arrestee name, sex, race, age, date of birth, citizenship status, booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type of crime committed, location and date of the crime.
The request was made under the Wisconsin Open Records Law by a news reporter affiliated with The Sconi. The organization is dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. In the email sent to the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office, it was emphasized that access to these public records is crucial for fulfilling professional responsibilities such as holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency.
The sender also noted their affiliation with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. A link to more information about this coalition was provided: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
The request includes a plea for a fee waiver due to the sender’s role as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news for public benefit.
We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.
