Florida Sheriff Defends Posting Mugshot of 9-Year-Old, Media Piggybacks Release Child’s Name

A Florida sheriff’s office is under intense public scrutiny after posting the blurred photo and name of a 9-year-old boy arrested at a school.

The boy was arrested on Oct. 10 for allegedly taking a folding knife to Middleton-Burney Elementary School in Crescent City, Florida, and threatening classmates, the district attorney’s office said. The image and name were shared publicly by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office on its Facebook page. The message quickly went viral and attracted almost 50,000 comments, many condemning the move.

In a statement to Newsweekthe sheriff’s office said it is following state law – specifically Florida Statute 985.04 – allowing data on juvenile arrests in misdemeanor cases to be made public.

“Under state statutes, the name of a minor and the publication of a photograph is permitted if the crime is of such a nature that an adult is accused of a crime. The sheriff’s office reserves the right to release this information when there is a threat to students and schools, as parents and the public have a right to know.”

Although posting the photo is within the law, many claim the action is harmful to young children.

Families of minors whose photos have been posted may request deletion of their child’s mugshot under Florida law. Authorities have ten days to remove posted images after receiving a written request.

The arrest and posting were picked up by multiple news sources, including The Daily Mail. The outlet has chosen to include not only an image of the minor, but also his name. Unfortunately for the child the outlet is within his rights to do this, according to AP journalistic guidelines.

Criminal defense attorney Shannon Schott spoke with 10 Tampa Bay about discernment in minors.

“Just because we can post photos of minors doesn’t mean we should,” Schott said.

However, as are petty offenders are usually eligible for expungementsThanks to the large number of criminal records, the lingering digital footprint of a mugshot can impact a child’s future. It is important to note that the child has not been formally convicted of any of the charges.

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