SE Illinois News

FOIA Request to Hamilton County Sheriff regarding the number of applications and tracking on August 14, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Hamilton County Sheriff on August 14, 2025. The request seeks specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The requester is seeking information on two main points: the number of job applications received by week, month, or year, and the department or person responsible for tracking these application numbers.

The request was made by SE Illinois News, a media organization focused on providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. The organization emphasizes its role in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public. As part of this commitment, they have requested that the information be provided in an electronic format to facilitate their reporting efforts.

Tracy Lakin, County Sheriff at Hamilton County Sheriff | Hamilton County Sheriff

Additionally, SE Illinois News has requested a fee waiver for this FOIA request. They argue that as members of the media involved in disseminating information to the public, they qualify for such a waiver. The requestor is also affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating government actions through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.

For more details about The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy's mission and activities, interested parties can visit their website at 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.