In recent years, mugshots have become a part of our public record. This means that anyone can access them with a simple search. While this can provide important information to the public, there are some issues associated with mugshots being made available in the public record. In New Jersey, new laws have been passed to try and address these issues by putting limits on what is available in the public record. Let’s take a closer look at New Jersey mugshot law and how it affects the public record. Read on to learn more about this and get informed.
How Mugshots Become Part of the Public Record
Mugshots become part of the public record when they are taken by law enforcement officers during an arrest. The mugshot is then stored in local records and becomes available for anyone to view upon request. Unfortunately, many people never receive their cases due to police or prosecutorial discretion or because they may be found not guilty or their case is dismissed altogether. Nevertheless, their mugshots remain accessible in the public record indefinitely, creating privacy issues for those listed in the records.
The Impact of New Jersey’s Mugshot Laws
In response to these concerns, New Jersey recently passed legislation limiting what can be included in the public record about arrests and criminal charges which were eventually dismissed. Under this new law, any criminal records of dismissed charges must now be expunged from all files within 60 days after dismissal or acquittal unless otherwise ordered by a court or required by statute or regulation. This includes mugshots taken at the time of arrest which must also be removed from any online databases kept by third-party companies within 10 days after dismissal or acquittal.
Protecting Your Privacy
It is important to understand your rights under this new law if you are ever arrested and charged with a crime that is later dismissed or acquitted. You should contact an attorney who specializes in criminal law to ensure that any mugshots taken remain private and do not appear on any online databases kept by third-party companies. Additionally, it is also important to keep track of your criminal history so that you can make sure that any records related to an old charge are expunged promptly according to state laws and regulations.
Final note
Overall, understanding New Jersey’s mugshot law and its impact on the public record has become increasingly important as more states pass similar laws limiting what can be included in their official records about arrests and criminal charges which were eventually dismissed or acquitted. It is critical for anyone who has been charged with a crime that was later dismissed or acquitted to understand their rights under this new law so that they can protect their privacy if needed. By doing so, individuals will be able to better control how much personal information appears online about them as well as make sure that any incorrect information related to an old charge is promptly expunged according to state laws and regulations. Thanks for reading this blog post, we hope it was helpful.
