Abstract
Mugshot websites have become popular — and controversial — across the United States as news outlets seek more Web traffic and the advertising revenue that accompanies it. Proponents argue that online photo galleries showing recent arrests in the community are a modern incarnation of a practice that newspapers and television stations have done for years and provide a valuable public service. However, critics contend such sites may demonize innocent people, perpetuate racial stereotypes, and permanently brand individuals with a digital scarlet letter. As the national conversation on criminal justice shifts following the police killing of George Floyd, newsrooms are beginning to reevaluate their mugshot galleries and several have decided to discontinue them. With the law providing little, if any, help, according to First Amendment scholars, the issue is primarily an ethical one. This paper analyzes the controversy through the lens of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. It concludes that, while mugshot sites
are not an inherently unethical journalism practice, many news outlets present mugshots utilizing ethically dubious methods that urgently need to be reformed.