"I just wanted to let you know that—in compliance with the recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in the case of Houston v. Maricopa—the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office will not be publishing or releasing booking photos unless there is a public safety need for us to do so. "

 

I appreciate this email from HCSO PIO Meghan Ruiz. She is just doing her job. The decision was obviously made by people at a higher level on the County.

"Hi John,

I just wanted to let you know that—in compliance with the recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in the case of Houston v. Maricopa—the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office will not be publishing or releasing booking photos unless there is a public safety need for us to do so. I will no longer be able to fulfill requests for booking photos unless it is requested via Public Records Request, and there is no guarantee it will be granted as it will need to meet the public safety need criteria.

Thank you!"

I emailed Eureka Police Chief Brian Stephens to see if EPD will be making any changes. Chief Stephens said he will research and get back to me. 

I have already contacted 4 lawyers including those who are experts in this field such as the California Anti SLAAP project who may not respond. I am more interested in the ACLU of Northern California, Ms. Allison Jackson and Mr. Allan Dollison's feedback. Both are highly respected in Humboldt and all over California and their cases have been recognized nationally. 

No one covers court and crime like I do in Humboldt and this policy on an initial read seems like yet another overreaction from the County and/or Sheriff Honsal and to selectively decide and define what is in what is public safety and what requests will get granted. In Humboldt, we have a lot of repeat offenders who have prior convictions. Majority of the arrests and cases I cover end up in pleas and convictions. 

The Ninth Circuit cookie cutter ruling does not fit every situation and jurisdiction. The Ninth Circuit ruling on enforcing laws on people sleeping in the 

According to ABC 15 in Arizona, "MCSO and some other counties in the state are temporarily not posting mugshots while they consult legal experts."

The MCSO argument and practice on their website is not even similar to what HCSO or EPD. Mendocino County inmate locator is similar to Maricopa County. Whoever advised Humboldt County and HCSO overreacted without even checking basic facts.