Politics
Bill would bar release of mug shots upon arrest
By Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jan 24, 2014A bill pending in the state House would bar public access to police mug shots unless the person photographed is later convicted.
Under House Bill 845, sponsored by Rep. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, booking photographs would not be subject to Georgia's open records laws unless the person arrested pleads guilty, pleads nolo contendere or is convicted.
The bill mirrors recommendations from a bipartisan group of senators calling for the same thing. The Senate Expungement Reform Study Committee on Jan. 16 released a list of recommendations, including that the state should exempt mug shots from the Open Records Act.
