The Sheriff's Department of Ada County (home of Boise) apparently has quite the active web site. While most local government web sites are pretty static, Ada's regularly updates pictures of registered sexual offenders. I can't say that I have a problem with that as registering as a sexual offender is part of the conditions of release. What I'm a little less comfortable with, however, is that they post the mug shots of everyone arrested within the last twenty-four hours. Not only that, but another website called The Stump Online is keeping a record of the photos and arrest records.

From an entertainment standpoint, it's great. I just spent half an hour looking through the archives. Some of them are smiling, some grimacing, but most staring blankly at the camera.

But I'm not sure how good an idea this is. The thing is that they haven't actually been convicted of anything (in the jail roster, not talking about the registered sexual offenders site). The Stump makes a point to mention that they are innocent until proven guilty, but they all look guilty to me and that's a problem.

On the other hand, these are public records and I half-way want to applaud the ACSD for making (these) public records so available. And honestly it provides an interesting perspective. It puts a human face to some crimes. The fact that a lot of them - especially DUI's - look so much like you or me is a good reminder that criminals are people to and that these faces, some smiling, may soon find themselves in prison.

And it also puts some perspective on drug crimes. Seeing as how this is a pretty random selection of people arrested, very few of them are actually drug offenders and that strikes me as significant, though I'm not sure towards what end.

So I'm not sure.

Interesting, I discovered that a St. Paul, Minnesota posts pictures of accused prostitutes. I'm not sure if they're singled out, though I see no reason why they should be as they are among the less threatening of criminals out there.

[link via J-Walk]