FOIA Request to Wibaux County Sheriff’s Office regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Wibaux County Sheriff’s Office by Southeast Montana News. The request seeks comprehensive data on all arrest records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The requested information includes detailed data points such as the arrestee’s name, sex, race, age, date of birth, and citizenship status. Additionally, it requests booking IDs, dates of arrest, booking photos, names of arresting officers, types of crimes committed, locations and dates of these crimes.
The Southeast Montana News emphasizes the importance of accessing public records for transparency and accountability in government affairs. As a media organization dedicated to providing accurate news coverage on local governmental matters, they have requested this information under the Montana Public Records Act § 2-6-1001 et seq., preferably in electronic format. They also seek a fee waiver due to their role in disseminating information to the public.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More details 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.
