Use copyright law to battle mugshot extortion

[abajournal.com 3/27/18] After her DUI charge was dropped, Julie Cantu thought her nightmare was over. Then, she went on a date. Over dinner, Cantu’s would-be-suitor was asking questions anyone asks on a first date. Then he asked about her criminal record. Caught off-guard by the question, she thought about the dropped charge. Her blood alcohol had been 0.021, well below the legal limit of 0.08, and she had no other contact with the law. How did her date know? After getting home, the Florida resident and retired nurse went online…

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FL: New Encampment, “Bookville V”, already has 75 “residents”

[floridaactioncommittee.org 5/16/18] As Legal Services of Greater Miami attorney Jeffrey Hearne cautioned the Judge and the media less than one week ago; unless something is done (about the 2500 foot exclusion zone) new encampments will pop up and “the cycle will continue.” It took less than a week after hundreds of registrants were evicted from a warehouse district along the railroad tracks near Hialeah for a new encampment to emerge; “Bookville V”, is named after lobbyist Ron Book, the man who not only created the laws that force sex offenders…

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CA: Posting mugshots on internet draws criminal charges from California attorney general

[sacbee.com 5/16/18] California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Thursday filed extortion and money laundering charges against the owners of a website that publishes mugshot photos and charges a fee to remove them. His office is targeting Mugshots.com, which pulls photos and identifying information about criminal suspects from law enforcement departments around the country. The site charges a “de-publishing fee” to remove someone from its archives, according to Becerra’s office. Becerra said it has frustrated people who were accused of crimes they did not commit. “This pay-for-removal scheme attempts to profit…

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After-School Baby-Sitter Requirements: “Must Have FBI Background Check”

[letgrow.org 5/14/18] What does it take to qualify as a babysitter these days? Dear Let Grow: My 15 year-old daughter joined an online babysitter’s group to get more summer work gigs. It has been an eye opening experience as to parental expectations. She has multiple family references, straight A’s, and is WONDERFUL with children, especially keeping the kids active. She also cooks and does chores during naps, like laundry and cleaning. I will NOT be paying for an FBI background check. Whatever happened to “Must love kids”? Here is one…

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