Under the proposal, titled the "Stop Guilt by Accusation Act," news outlets would be required to remove mugshots from digital publications if the accused is acquitted. If news outlets cover a criminal court case but fail to report on a defendant's acquittal, the defendant could sue for damages of up to $10,000 from each media company.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Heidi Sampson, R-Alfred, argues that news outlets cover arrests and trials of people who are accused of crimes but often "fail to report" on the outcome if the accused are proven innocent. She said those individuals are "stigmatized for life" by the news coverage of a crime they didn't commit.
Read Full Article »