(FixThisNation.com) – Starting on Jan. 1, 2024, AB 994, a new California law is placing further restrictions and rules on law enforcement agencies posting mugshots to social media accounts.
According to the new law, the sheriff’s offices and law enforcement departments will be required to include both the pronouns and name of the person who was arrested along with the mugshot when shared on social media. The California police will be required to use the name and pronouns provided by the person during their arrest regardless of the crime they are accused of.
Further restrictions are also going to be placed on mugshots shared on social media, which would also deal with the removal of old and new mugshots from the websites.
Law enforcement agencies will be allowed to use other aliases or legal names only in cases where those will be helpful for detaining the individual, or that they would help eliminate any threat posed by the individual to the public. These names would also be allowed to be used in urgent cases and in other instances where people’s public safety could be affected.
Law enforcement would usually use the name that the legal documents of the person had when booking them. This includes their driver’s license, birth certificate, or government ID. However, the new rules would apply in cases where the mugshot is shared on social media.
In terms of removing the mugshots under the new law, all mugshots will need to be removed from social media accounts within 14 days unless a judge orders otherwise, there is a judge order, or the mugshot could help reduce the threat posed by the individual.
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