In other words, the bill would prevent police agencies from releasing booking photos to the public unless the individual is actually convicted of a criminal offense. As it stands now, mugshots are available online or can be requested from the jail by the media to be used in arrest stories or as a criminal case moves through the courts.Įxceptions to the bill would be if the individual is a wanted fugitive or poses an eminent threat to public safety, or if a court decision mandates the release of a booking photo.ĭuring a House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee hearing held Feb.
Keven Stratton, R-Orem, amends the Utah code by making a jail booking photo “a protected record” and prohibits disclosure of “an image taken of an individual during the process of booking the individual into jail, unless the individual is convicted of a criminal offense based upon the conduct for which the individual is incarcerated.” George NewsĪs stated in its description, HB 0228, sponsored by Rep. Keven Stratton, R-District 48, introduces HB-228 to prohibit the release of a jail booking photo until conviction, location, dates unspecified | Photos courtesy of Daniel Thatcher and Travis Seegmiller, St. GEORGE - A bill that would prohibit the distribution of mugshots taken during the jail booking process until after the individual is convicted of the crime they were arrested for is over the first hurdle and one step closer to becoming a law.