BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would seal arrestee’s mugshots from the public.
The Bismarck Tribune reported Friday that Rep. Shannon Roers Jones’ proposal would make the photos confidential until the suspect is convicted or a suspect fails to appear in court or there’s a compelling safety interest warranting their release.
Roers Jones, of Fargo, said that the media sensationalizes mugshots and they remain online forever once posted, hurting people’s chances at finding jobs and romantic partners.
North Dakota Newspaper Association attorney Jack McDonald counters that mugshots enhance stories, if people are concerned about their mugshots being published they shouldn’t commit the crime and the next logical step is not reporting the crime until the case is resolved.
Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben said the public has a right to know when people are arrested but neither he nor the North Dakota Sheriffs & Deputies Association have taken stance on the bill yet. He said he’s worried about what the bill might mean for the jail’s automated online photo system and the costs of complying.
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