You're Missing These Essential Tips For Public Booking Photos Finally Explained - hub.bocatc.org
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Mugshotsthose unmistakable booking photos taken upon arrestcarry a heavy burden. Whether someone is convicted, acquitted, or the charges are dropped, the image can linger online forever. This 2025 guide covers the evolving laws about releasing mugshots, including your rights, how public record laws affect you, and steps to protect your privacy. The dissemination of booking photos on social media has been a hotly debated topic in recent years. While some argue that the practice aids in maintaining public safety and transparency, others ... The Office of the California Attorney General issues this legal alert to provide guidance regarding the sharing of booking photographs on social media to ensure that California state and local law enforcement agencies (collectively California LEAs) are complying with California Law. Penal Code section 13665, subdivision (a) prohibits a police department or sheriffs office from sharing on ...
This guidance supersedes all prior memoranda regarding USMS policy with respect to the release of USMS booking photographs (mug shots) to the public or media. Penal Code section 13665 (a) A police department or sheriffs office shall not share, on social media, booking photos of an individual arrested on suspicion of committing a nonviolent crime unless any of the following circumstances exist: (1) Are there laws about releasing mugshots? In this guide, we discuss whether or not all mugshots are part of the public record. If youve ever been arrested, the odds are high that your mugshots, arrest information and court records are online. With this in mind, you should be aware of the laws about releasing mugshots online and how they impact your personal privacy. Some states and cities are grappling with a question: Why do police release mugshots and should they be allowed to? Critics of this type of legislation consider access to booking photographs shots an important part of journalistic coverage, freedom of speech and the publics right to know. Journalists and others assert that these photographs should remain in the public realm. AB 1475 forbids any police departments or sheriffs offices in the state of California from posting booking photos of suspects of nonviolent crimes on social media platforms, unless a limited circumstance applies, such as when the suspect is considered a fugitive or poses an imminent threat.
Critics of this type of legislation consider access to booking photographs shots an important part of journalistic coverage, freedom of speech and the publics right to know. Journalists and others assert that these photographs should remain in the public realm. AB 1475 forbids any police departments or sheriffs offices in the state of California from posting booking photos of suspects of nonviolent crimes on social media platforms, unless a limited circumstance applies, such as when the suspect is considered a fugitive or poses an imminent threat.
