WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - There are growing calls in Delaware for police to stop releasing mug shots of arrested juveniles.
The News Journal reported Monday that a proposal to ban such booking photos has been placed in the Black Legislative Caucus’s agenda for police and criminal justice reform.
“It needs to stop,” said state Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, a Democrat from New Castle. “They need to put more focus on addressing red flag behaviors early on.”
Advocates for criminal justice reform have been calling for the practice to end. They’ve argued that people who’ve only been accused of a crime should not be portrayed as criminals and put at risk of losing a job and other opportunities. The consequences can be especially dire for young people.
The News Journal does not typically identify minors who’ve been arrested. Their identity is often shielded from the public in a court system that is separate from adults.
Police departments across the state differ on their approach. Some agencies already restrict the release of minors’ information.
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