A number of commenters on an earlier post argued that the police should not publish photos of those arrested in drug raids because people are innocent until proven guilty. In fact, some went so far as to say putting arrestees’ photos on the web would be unconstitutional. Other bloggers have weighed in as well.
But on the web right now is this information:
Robbery
Shawn L. Burch, 28, of 404 E. Republic St. was arrested about 8 p.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Northeast Adams Street and booked on charges of robbery and mob action with injury. He allegedly attacked and stole jackets from two women Sunday afternoon on Madison Avenue.
Mary J. Schertz, 23, of 2610 W. Humboldt Ave. was arrested about 6 p.m. Sunday at the Peoria Police Department, 600 SW Adams St., and booked on charges of robbery, aggravated battery and mob action. She attacked two women last week in South Peoria, striking them with a softball and stealing one of their purses, police said.
Weapons
Bryant K. Carter, 43, of 914 W. Hampshire Road was arrested about 7:40 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of West Hampshire Road and booked on charges of unlawful use of weapons, having an expired firearm owner’s identification card and disorderly conduct.
Where is this information, you may ask? The police department’s website, perhaps? No. It’s the Journal Star’s site. And it’s under the category “Arrests.” And it appeared in print on September 9, to boot.
So, the question is, should this information be suppressed until there is a conviction? Is it wrong to publish this public information? It gives names, addresses, and the reason each person was arrested — and if they’re not convicted, there’s nothing published to clear their name after the fact. What’s the difference between this journalistic practice and the police doing the same thing for drug arrests on their website (with one difference: adding a picture of the arrestees)?
Frankly, I think what the police department is suggesting is actually less invasive. You might run across these names in the paper while you’re looking at the local news. You’d have to deliberately visit the police department’s website to see the pictures. Compare the number of hits to the Peoria Police Department site with the Journal Star’s — then add in the paper’s circulation numbers.
Should there be outrage against the paper’s publishing of these innocent (until proven guilty) people’s names and addresses? Should arrests be suppressed in the media, and only convictions reported?
Arrest reports and court records are public information, to my knowledge and anyone has a right to see them.
Suppressing arrest records? Has somebody lost their mind? That reeks of the secret police. There is a huge difference between publishing factual accounts of arrests, and publishing photos of “drug dealer” arrestees as a group (or any other group of arrestees).
I don’t think it is unconstitutional to do the later, but it is not something I would support. Let’s keep in mind that not every bad idea is unconstitutional, and reasonable people can disagree on what is good policy.
You can’t stop other entities from doing what they are going to do as long as it is lawful. But doesn’t it seem that a Law Enforcement entity would have a higher degree of social responsibility towards the accused than a third party?
For instance, if a restaurant on their own website had a page that listed other area restaurants that they thought gave bad service, it might be legal, but very bad form. It would also be tainted with bias, and therefore, skepticism.
On the other hand, if a private citizen started a similar website, it would be viewed differently.
Sometimes, when evaluating highly complex issues, one just has to go with their gut. This policy to me just doesn’t pass the smell test.
Diane — So your answer to the question is that the arrests should not be published in the paper, then? You believe it’s socially irresponsible for the Journal Star to print that information?
I would rather not see anyone publishing “arrests”. That’s right.
But the far greater offense in my opinion is the PPD publishing “arrests”. Does that seem clearer?
So if there is a huge murder arrest…we should wait until the person is through the court system before reporting?
How big would the case have to be until it was ‘newsworthy’ to report?
I don’t have a problem with a report of just the arrest. “Bob Smith, 123 Chickenlittle Way, Porcupineville, IL, arson.” would be appropriate. The address to indentify the correct “Bob Smith”. However, the media goes overboard and I don’t feel that mentioning that there have been 20 arsons in Porcupineville this year, Bob owns a antique cigarette lighter collection and his garage is filled with Chicago Fire soccer team posters is necessary information. It is stuff like this that has no relevance to his direct arrest and makes him sound more suspicious and guilty than he may be.
Well, if you any of you guys get arrested, I want to know about it. But, if anyone in my family gets arrested, I want it on the down low!
No, Ian, I think we should plaster every accusation that anyone makes about anyone or anything across the front page of every paper, start off each news broadcast with any allegation and put the alleged recalcitrant in stocks in front of the courthouse until we have convicted and sentenced them… and then hang ’em!
Do you understand the notion of presumption of innocence? It is none of your business who is arrested for what unless you are a principle participant in the criminal or civil investigation.
Sounds like kcdad has some dirty laundry
Who doesn’t? Your feces don’t stink?
Ian, I think we are getting away from apples and apples.
What is the big deal, The PJS puts there name and address in the paper when they are arrested (not convicted.)Now they will have a picture to go along with it on the PPD webb site.
Left by Martin Palmer on September 7th, 2008
This was My pervious post.
The papers have reported the arrests for years. It is public record. Anyone can look at an arrest report. Big no big deal.
My picture would never have appeared on the website nor would I do anything that would cause it too.
Very, very few people are truly innocent when they are arrested. They may be charged with the wrong thing or the investigation may have been tainted, but they still did it.
Wow, Ryan.
There is a difference between being arrested and being charged with a crime. Many more people are arrested than are actually charged. It’s probably ok to post pics if they are actually going to charge them with something but if there are no charges then yeah it is more problematic.
haha Ryan. Jaded much?
Ryan, I hope you never sit on a jury where I or a loved one is a defendant. Yikes!!
Ian, your lucky I never did anything to you to end up on that website 😉
If I were on juries, we would have much less crime.
…and much less liberty and population
Lol Ryan. I came close a couple of times! 🙂
I remember one Halloween, Downtown in Peoria…
I refuse to go any further with this conversation on the grounds that I may incriminate myself 😉