Brevard County is a coastal county of Florida, and though it inherited some of the general characteristics of the state, the county is a melting pot of different communities, recreational beaches, and is home to the Kennedy Space Center. But as with any other county, Brevard County too experiences crime, which results in arrests and mugshots being taken. Fingerprint cards don, arrest photographs or mug shots where a suspect is being photographed by the law enforcement officers after being arrested are examples of public records. In Brevard County, mugshots have become rather popular and much discussed thanks to the Internet and databases and media outlets.
The Mugshot Process in Brevard County
If a person gets arrested in Brevard County, he or she is photographed by the police or sheriff of Brevard County upon being booked. The photo is taken with other basic information like the name of the personnel involved, that is that person, charges, date of birth, and arrest information. These mugshots are then fed into public databases and end up getting used by the media and other members of the public.
Mugshots fall under legal process and are deemed public records in Florida hence exhibited a public record. Currently, the Brevard County sheriff’s office updates the arrest Mugshots online and enables the community to be updated with what is happening in the region. The same photographs are also posted on many media websites as well as social media platforms especially when reporting crime news or checksums.
The Controversy Surrounding Mugshots
Mugshots can be a great social awareness tool but brings issues concerning privacy and fairness as well as defamation into consideration. One of the primary issues is the so called presumption of innocence. Even before one is convicted in a criminal case they may end up with their mugshots put in the public domain and hence damage their reputations. This is especially worrying when individuals are apprehended for petty crimes, or when charges being [,] later dismissed.
Mugshots can be also deceiving because the images, almost always, do not reflect the circumstances of the arrest or the rest of the legal procedure. Or a person can be arrested for a misunderstanding or arrested and released shortly after being booked into the system. However, publication of mugshots affects persons’ current and future employment, business, education, voting, and adoption prospective. For this reason, majority of advocacy groups have been demanding for change that would seek to restrict the releasing of mugshots or where an offender wants their photograph to be deleted once they have be cleared of the charges.
The Role of Online Mugshot Websites
Mugshots of individuals arrested in Brevard County are posted on the government’s official site and many other online platforms. These sites have gained popularity, using mugshots as part of a searchable database. Some even charge a fee to remove the images, turning it into a profitable extortion business.
Although they constitute useful sources of information and guidance regarding public safety and issues, they have met criticism. Most of these sites are seen as a scam. You are locked out until you pay a fee to remove your mugshot. Often, the mugshot is old, misleading, or irrelevant. In response, some states, including Florida, have passed laws to reform the practices of mugshot websites, especially those that charge fees for removal.
Impact on Communities
Mugshots published in Brevard County and throughout the country have affected communities in a huge way. On the one hand, it delivers the public knowledge of criminal actions and contributes to forming transparency in law enforcement departments. On the other hand it is able to reinforce negative stereotype, stigmatization and even continuation of race and socio-economic inequities in criminology.
For those arrested but not convicted, published mugshots can have long-term consequences. False allegations or charges that are dismissed often lead to societal and organizational stigmatization. This has led to calls for legal changes, allowing mugshots to be published only under limited conditions or removed from databases once charges are dropped.
Legal and Social Reforms
Prisoner mugshots are becoming a growing topic in legal and social circles, especially as changes are made in Brevard County and beyond. Some special interest groups oppose laws that release mugshots before a person is convicted. Others demand the removal of mugshots from online databases after charges are dropped or a person is freed.
There is growing public pressure for improvement in the criminal justice system, especially regarding racism and mass incarceration of people of color. Mugshots are one example of this issue. They highlight important concerns about fairness, privacy, and the need for change in the system.
Conclusion
Photographs are taken during arrests for identification purposes. In Brevard County, posting these photos online is part of public record. While useful in fighting crime, they raise concerns about privacy, tarnishing suspects’ reputations, and protecting the rights of the innocent. The emergence of Internet mugshots and Internet sites making money out of posting such images has further muddied the waters. As more people join the criminal justice reform movement, the impact of mugshots on individuals and communities should be addressed. It is important to discuss which features can be improved, added, or even abolished to protect civil rights and liberties.
