“Publication of police booking photos … vastly overstates the propensity of black and brown men to engage in criminal behavior,” SFPD Chief William Scott said.
San Francisco police will stop releasing most mug shots in an effort to curtail any racial bias they may perpetuate, the department’s chief announced Wednesday.
San Francisco Chief of Police William Scott said that the booking photos would not be released any longer, effective immediately, “except in circumstances where their release is necessary to warn the public of imminent danger or to enlist the public’s assistance in locating individuals, including at-risk persons.”
Booking photos are taken when someone is arrested. They are often made public whether or not the person is prosecuted for the alleged crime, which undermines the presumption of innocence and oftentimes contributes to racial stereotypes, the chief said.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/san-fransisco-police-halt-release-most-mug-shots-effort-stop-n1232692