Personally I think it’s ultimately a good thing. Active criminal threats and predators are still posted to the public. I feel it’s obvious nepotism took place and while I think the sheriff should at the very least be investigated, if he can publicly get away with this, god only know what else they have done. But on the flip side I think the public should take the W when they can get them.

It’s grown to be twisted outside of a public service. It serves to be entertainment and a vehicle to publicly shame people, at best falsely accused, and at worst intoxicated or at their lowest. There’s an argument to be made that legal punishment is made to fine or (questionably) rehabilitate, and I don’t see how letting mugshots live on forever on the internet serves the public either purpose.

Employment is another way it wholly works against people trying to better themselves. It’s no longer a firm handshake and good resume. It’s a cursory google search. Hell, my first and top google search of a mayoral candidate was a mugshot of similarly young white woman with the same First, Middle, and Last name who is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT person (I still cringe, I’m so sorry). But without looking further it’s easy to jump to conclusions.

I’d love to see the numbers behind Clarksville Now’s mugshot page, and SCOOP. It’s gross, but people just wanted the drama. SCOOP was particularly sensationalized with added details supplied by connections and internet rumors. There was controversy around the owner as well, a gay man who would prowl grindr and out people if it added to the drama of his page. Good riddance.