Mugshot got you down? Bill would ban public release in N.J. before conviction

[alp227]

Source: The Star-Ledger

Those arrested in New Jersey would be spared the embarrassing public release of their mugshot until they are convicted or plead guilty, under a bill advanced today by a state Assembly panel.

The measure (A3906), approved 9-0 with one abstention by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, would amend the state's open public records act to make confidential the photographs of anyone arrested if they have not yet been convicted.

Sponsors of the legislation said it was intended to protect people's personal and professional reputations by preventing the release of the images, which are often posted to the Internet by the media or websites that gather and display mugshots.

Those images then live online in perpetuity, even if the charges against someone are dropped or if they are acquitted.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/mugshot_got_you_down_bill_would_ban_public_release_before_conviction.html

[RGinNJ]

1. Good on them!

Now will Gov. Christie sign it?

[Incitatus]

3. I think so.

There's little downside. I expect this is a bill many on both sides agree with, so it can only help his poll numbers.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Hardly surprising - some mugshots could bias a jury

[L0oniX]

4. This needs to go nation wide.

[rocktivity]

5. Sounds fair

Last edited Mon Nov 18, 2013, 10:56 PM - Edit history (1)

I had no idea that "perp walks" were done mainly for the media until they were ruled unconstitutional in NYC.

I wasn't so naive as to think that the cops didn't tip off the media when they were ready to transport a suspect from the police station to the jail. But I'd had no idea that more often than not, they were simply taken outside to have their pictures taken!


rocktivity