Police mugshot prompts marriage proposals

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. As a side matter, the recent trend of wholesale distribution of mugshot pictures is just sad.

Basically, police departments are distributing each and every mugshot taken willy-nilly to anyone who asks. Not only to newspapers (who gladly post them on their websites) but also to questionable tabloid publications and websites who profit from the publication by only agreeing to take them down for a price. In other words, extortion.

This is all done before any final adjudication of guilt or innocence, but because it's instantly Googleable, it will immediately become a part of your identity regardless of whether or not you are actually convicted of the crime for which you were arrested. Presumption of innocence until being proven guilty is pretty much thrown out the window when you are tried in the court of public opinion for even the most minor criminal offenses.

I understand there is a right to public information and free press concerns, but there are also serious due process issues that have arisen because of this recent trend, and it ought to be addressed.