Ballot Proposition Increases Violent Felonies, Requires DNA Collection for Misdemeanors

[ACSOL] A ballot proposition that will appear on the November 2020 ballot in California, if passed, would significantly increase the number of violent felonies as well as require the collection of DNA from individuals convicted of some misdemeanor offenses.  The title of the ballot proposition is “Violent Crime, DNA Collection and Parole Initiative.”  The proposition has not yet been assigned a number or a letter that will be included on the ballot. “We must work together in order to stop this ballot proposition,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci.  “If…

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FL: Tampa Bay Times Nixes Mugshot Gallery

[newsmax.com – 6/16/20] The Tampa Bay Times will stop publishing its online mugshot gallery, which features people who have been arrested in the newspaper’s coverage area. The Times made the announcement on Monday. “The galleries lack context and further negative stereotypes,” said Tampa Bay Times Executive Editor Mark Katches. “We think the data is an important resource that our newsroom will continue to analyze and watch carefully, but the galleries alone serve little journalistic purpose.” Katches added that the newspaper will still publish individual mugshots with stories when arrests have been…

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