FOIA Request to Hardy County Sheriff’s Office regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
The East Panhandle Times has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office in West Virginia. 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, citizenship status, booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type and location of crime, and date of crime.
The East Panhandle Times emphasizes the importance of accessing public records to fulfill its role in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. The media organization has also requested a fee waiver for this information based on its status as a media entity involved in news dissemination.
Additionally, the requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy. This non-profit organization aids media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests and Sunshine Laws. More details about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
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.
