the olympian's may day mug shots

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the olympian's may day mug shots

Submitted by rosscowman on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 9:40am.

I felt uncomfortable with the olympian publishing the faces of the arrested protesters on the front page of their paper. People get arrested all the time in olympia, for murder, for rape, for theft. Why does the olympian give front-page priority to 6 suspected vandals?

rosscowman's blog
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I agree.

Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 9:53am.

Personally, I don't think it's anyone's business until there is a guilty verdict or plea.

Agreed

Submitted by Norm on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 10:01am.

The recent story of the firefighter from Spokane that was cleared of child porn charges comes to mind.

Michelle Linehan, too

Submitted by Marcie on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 9:36pm.

Remember when they posted a picture of her HOUSE on the front page? Also, before she was convicted. That was totally unbelievable to me, a definite violation of her families privacy.

I wasn't aware of that

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 1:14pm.

News media is getting more and more tabloid'ish. The moral judgement (privacy vs sales) seems to be shifting further and further toward the almighty dollar.

or

Submitted by enpen on Thu, 05/08/2008 - 10:06pm.

We're just getting older and more indignant. But then again, until I met you I always thought you were an old man...

Truly though, I think you have a point. And I fear that as old media loses ground to the new online reality its death throes will be pretty ugly and sensational.

"In principle, I am an anarchist. Kurt Vonnegut once said he was an agnostic who respects Jesus Christ. I am an anarchist who loves democracy." - Kenzaburo Oe

lol

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 05/08/2008 - 10:16pm.

I seem to give that impression to many.

Sensationalism stinks.

i smell a letter to the

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 10:44am.

i smell a letter to the editor brewingg here...

"The great masses of people will more easily fall victim to a 'Big Lie' than a small one, if it is repeated often enough

Nazi Propagandist Joseph Goebbels

Gotta Agree

Submitted by Laurian on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 5:42pm.

In a similar vein the Olympian recently published the names of women charged with prostitution. I suppose the women's names were public record but...

Are mug shots public record? If so, how does an average citizen go about getting pictures of those who are booked at the Oly jail? I think I'll email the OPD and ask. Be back with the answer soon. I hope.

Are mug shots public

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 7:44pm.

Are mug shots public record?

Yes, they are. The Smoking Gun's mug shot section is probably one of the better clicks around.

Just about everything having to do with the government - whether it's the salary of an employee, an internal memorandum or a citizen's mug shot - enters the public realm and is available to those who ask for it.

I think one of the better lines in Dodgeball is spoken by Ben Stiller when he's asked how he knows where Christine Taylor's character resides.

It's called the Freedom of Information Act for a reason. The hippies finally got something right. Just kidding. But not really.

I'm willing t believe you but can you cite me the RCW or OMC

Submitted by Laurian on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 8:36pm.

that makes mug shots public info. I'm not challenging you personally. There maybe a constitutional right to privacy issue here.

9th amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

For quick reference...Ninth

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 9:06pm.

For quick reference...

Ninth Amendment of the United States:

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

RCQ 42.56.210, entitled "Certain personal and other records exempt", has a list that "the disclosure of which would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests, can be deleted from the specific records sought."

Exemptions from public inspection
accounting records of special inquiry judge: RCW 10.29.090.
basic health plan records: RCW 70.47.150.
bill drafting service of code reviser's office: RCW 1.08.027, 44.68.060.
certificate submitted by individual with physical or mental disability seeking a driver's license: RCW 46.20.041.
commercial fertilizers, sales reports: RCW 15.54.362.
criminal records: Chapter 10.97 RCW.
employer information: RCW 50.13.060.
family and children's ombudsman: RCW 43.06A.050.
legislative service center, information: RCW 44.68.060.
medical quality assurance commission, reports required to be filed with: RCW 18.71.0195.
organized crime advisory board files: RCW 10.29.030.
investigative information: RCW 43.43.856.
public transportation information: RCW 47.04.240.
salary and fringe benefit survey information: RCW 41.06.160.

RCQ 42.56.240 may be more specific to what we're looking for, though. "Investigative, law enforcement, and crime victims," this RCW outlines exemptions which fall into the law enforcement realm.

I do not see anything there which would prohibit the release of a mug shot.

The way laws are written when the public is asking a government entity for documents and information, the burden of proof is on the government to demonstrate they do not need to provide it (I believe it's five business days they have to respond to your written request; of course, the written request must be very specific in what you want the entity to provide).

Thanks

Submitted by Laurian on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 9:22pm.

n/t

I don't know how much either

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 1:43am.

I don't know how much either helps.

I can't find anything that says photographs of arrested individuals ("mug shots") are exempt if a member of the public asks for it.

The women have been publicly

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 8:04am.

The women have been publicly identified but the Johns are still running free and anonymous. I heard on the rumour-mill that some of the Johns were well known and respected people.

It doesn't matter who owns The Olympian, it's always had questionable taste. My Uncle drowned in Capitol Lake back in '66, the Front Page was a picture of the diver pulling him out with an arrow pointing to the body.

Oh Merwyn

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 11:24am.

That is horrible, what the O did concerning your uncle.

While it is no comparison to your poor uncle

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 11:37am.

I remember a time in the mid-90s when the O ran a top-fold, front-page article about an unfortunate local man suffering from a flesh-eating bacterial infection of his butt. While I applaud them for not providing any pictures, they still named the poor fellow (without his permission) so all of the world could know the condition of his condition. HIPAA ( Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) would prevent that now. Too bad we need a law to respect privacy.

[Note: I've emailed Enpen

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 11:45am.

[Note: I've emailed Enpen saying it's only right that I should accept the 3-Post Penance too for yesterday. I asked him to "make it official" so that I wouldn't succumb to the temptation to comment. None of the Docents have been online since making the request.

I expect this to be my final comment until three hyperlocal posts have been submitted - too bad I don't have a camera.]

TMZ recently ID'd (and showed a photo) of a well-known Hollywood Star's 14-year-old who was the victim of Statutory Rape. (I know who it is, but choose to keep it to myself.) Hopefully the O wouldn't stoop to that level.

How awful!

Submitted by jlw on Thu, 05/08/2008 - 6:51pm.

I'm so sorry about your uncle. And I think it's terrible that the paper exposed the women, and protected the men.

Not the the degree of the other posts

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Thu, 05/08/2008 - 11:08am.

But I have a complaint where The Olympian ties in places of business, for example, the occupation of Lacey Councilman John Darby, which had nothing to do with the council story.

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