- All (608)
- Industry News (82)
- IPA News (19)
- Obituaries (69)
- People in the News (65)
- What You Said (43)
- Impact (22)
IPA HEADLINES
Mugshots and arrest details remain public information in Illinois
By Josh Sharp and Don Craven, Illinois Press Association
Some of you may have already been impacted by new laws, effective Jan. 1. One of those laws, Public Act 100-0927, started as a very bad piece of legislation from a news reporting perspective. The bill as originally introduced would have unconstitutionally required that the media industry in Illinois remove or expunge coverage of certain criminal record information, free of charge, within 30 days after a request by the subject of that information.
However, thanks to our lobbying efforts in Springfield, the final bill was not of major significance. The IPA was able to secure an amendment that exempted the news media from any changes to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and removed any unfavorable changes to the Freedom of Information Act.
Nevertheless, even as of this writing, it is clear that early drafts of the legislation (SB 2560) which were not part of the final bill, are causing some confusion among our members. To be clear, Public Act 100-0927 added language to the Freedom of Information Act, section 2.15, dealing exclusively with the release of mugshots by law enforcement officers. Prior to the enactment of Public Act 100-0927, section 2.15 read as follows:
“(a) Arrest reports. The following chronologically maintained arrest and criminal history information maintained by State or local criminal justice agencies shall be furnished as soon as practical, but in no event later than 72 hours after the arrest, notwithstanding the time limits otherwise provided for in Section 3 of this Act: (i) information that identifies the individual, including the name, age, address, and photograph, when and if available; (ii) information detailing any charges relating to the arrest; (iii) the time and location of the arrest; (iv) the name of the investigating or arresting law enforcement agency; (v) if the individual is incarcerated, the amount of any bail or bond; and (vi) if the individual is incarcerated, the time and date that the individual was received into, discharged from, or transferred from the arresting agency's custody.”
That language referenced above was NOT changed, and remains in full force and effect.
The amendment below to Section 2.15 relates only to the posting of mugshots by law enforcement offices on their own social media websites, and only for relatively minor offenses:
“(e) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a), a law enforcement agency may not publish booking photographs, commonly known as “mugshots”, on its social media website in connection with civil offenses, petty offenses, business offenses, Class C misdemeanors, and Class B misdemeanors unless the booking photograph is posted to social media to assist in the search for a missing person or to assist in the search for a fugitive, person of interest, or individual wanted in relation to a crime other than a petty offense, business offense, Class C misdemeanor, or Class B misdemeanor.”
Importantly, you will note there is no prohibition on posting mugshots on the official website of the law enforcement agency, nor is there a prohibition in providing the mugshots to members of the news media. To the contrary, the language previously discussed in Section (a) requires the production of those photos.
Other changes made by Public Act 100-0927 deal with the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and apply only to for-profit publications and websites that post mugshots, and then demand a ransom to take the photos down. The law sets up a procedure to allow “victims” to demand the photo be taken down. Again, these changes to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act DO NOT APPLY TO THE NEWS MEDIA.
If you get a demand to take down a story or a mugshot, obviously consult with your own attorney, but do not be fooled by the demand letter, thinking you have to immediately remove the information. If local law enforcement tells you the statute on mugshots has changed, please invite them to read the entire public act. There are no changes in Public Act 100-0927 that regulate the news media in Illinois.
For additional information, please CONTACT:
Josh Sharp, Executive Vice President & COO, Illinois Press Association
217-241-1300 – Office
Jsharp@illinoispress.org
Don Craven, General Counsel, Illinois Press Association
217-544-1777 –Office
Don@cravenlawoffice.com
Return
QUICKLINKS
Member Log-In
Contact Us
Events
PressLines
Job Bank
Advertising Toolbox
Upload Pages
Press Releases
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:May 17, 2024 Contact Information: J-Ad Graphics Newspaper Publishing sold to JAMS Media, LLC. and its View Newspaper Group of Lapeer, Michigan The Jacobs Family has sold its J-Ad Graphics publishing business to JAMS Media,LLC and its View Newspaper Group of Lapeer, Michigan,according to Joe Bella, independent broker with BVC LLC. Joe Bella represented the Jacobs family in thetransaction. Legal details of the transaction were finalized on May 10. Financial specifics havenot been made public. Weekly production of the Hastings Banner, The Reminder, and J-Ad’s newspapers inBattle Creek, Marshall, and Lowell will continue under the View Newspaper Groupname. Based in Lapeer, Michigan,the View Newspaper Group operates primarily on theeast side of the state with 14 free circulation and paid subscription communitynewspapers covering 10 Michigan counties. It prints more than 250,000 copies onboth a weekly and daily basis. According to J-Ad Graphics CEO Fred Jacobs, most employees will be retainedthough changes are likely in production and delivery operations. “I realized keeping the business going was becoming more difficult due to risingcosts, machine maintenance, and declining advertising dollars,” says Jacobs. “I felt an obligation to do what was necessary to keep our papers going even if it meantselling them to an outside firm." The purchase of J-Ad Graphics fits the template of the View Newspaper Group, whose exponential growth began in 2003 with the launch of the Lapeer Area View by company President and founder Rick Burrough. “The Jacobs family has been great stewards of the J-Ad group of newspapers,”states Burrough. “When the family decided it was time for them to sell their papers, they sought us out knowing of our success in the community newspaper businessand our reputation for treating stakeholders – readers, advertisers, vendors, and employees – with fairness and respect.” The Jacobs family was represented by Joe Bella, an affiliate of Business ValuationConsulting LLC. Contact Joe@bellco-llc.com, 1-574-276-1547. |
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:May 16, 2024 Contact Information: Leyden Township Health Fair delivers needed health and wellness services to the community LEYDEN TOWNSHIP, COOK COUNTY, Illinois- On Saturday, May 18, Leyden Township welcomes all residents to Leyden Township’s second Community Health Fair; making this an annual event after a successful first year. This health fair is designed to integrate health and wellness into the community by connecting residents to all services necessary for optimal health and well-being. Components of health that will be represented during the fair will be by community partners who offer primary health care and mental health services. Also included are job opportunities, healthy food and clean water options, physical fitness, and safety skills and training.The event is structured to foster connection and awareness between residents and providers of health and wellness service providers in the community. The Leyden Township Community Health Fair will be held at the Bradley A. Stephens Community Center, 2620 NorthMannheim Road, Franklin Park, Illinois, on Saturday, May 18, from 1 to 4p.m. This will be a free event that is open to the public.The Secretary of State will also be onsite during the health fair, offering Mobile DMV Services to residents with an appointment. Residents can secure reservations ahead of time by calling (847) 455-8616. Some of what The Leyden Township Community Health Fair will offer:
“My vision as township supervisor is to create a thriving community for all township residents. I found it prudent to prioritize our community’s health and wellness needs and to find community partners with a shared vision and proven track record of delivering positive health outcomes,” said Rocco D. Biscaglio, Leyden Township supervisor. ABOUT LEYDEN TOWNSHIP ### |
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:May 15, 2024 Contact Information: Ready to lead: Illinois School Leader Pipeline participants gear up for hiring season Springfield, IL – The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) is pleased to announce the first cohort of the Illinois School Leader Pipeline Program (ISLPP). This program aims to identify, develop, support, and sustain diverse aspiring school leaders in preparation for leadership roles. Managed by IPA, the Illinois Council of Professors of Educational Administration (ICPEA), and the Black Educational Advocacy Coalition (BEAC), ISLPP is supported by a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). ###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:April 25, 2024 Contact Information: 'Morgenthau' author Andrew Meier to speak at Union League event April 25 CHICAGO — 221B Partners is proud to announce an evening with journalist and author Andrew Meier, to be held April 25, 2024, at the Union League. The evening, moderated by Bethany McLean, will include a discussion with Meier on current events in the U.S. and Russia as well as his most recent work, "Morgenthau: Power, Privilege and the Rise of an American Dynasty" (Random House, 2022), a portrait of a German-Jewish immigrant family whose members played key diplomatic and legal roles that helped shape 20th Century America. Henry Morgenthau Sr. made his mark as a real estate mogul who served as U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during World War I. His son, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., served as FDR’s secretary of the Treasury during the New Deal. And his son, Robert Morgenthau, was the longest-serving district attorney in New York City’s history, overseeing many of the city’s best-known cases. Meier’s previous works include the award-winning "Black Earth: A Journey Through Russia After the Fall" and "The Lost Spy: An American in Stalin’s Secret Service." He previously served as a correspondent for Time magazine based in Moscow and also has contributed to New York Times Magazine. His work has been recognized with fellowships from the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library and the Leon Levy Center for Biography, as well as from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington,D.C. McLean is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and co-author of "The Smartest Guys in the Room," about the rise and fall of Enron. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a conversation with Meier at 6 p.m.; it will be held at the Union League, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois. This event is invite-only. For inquiries about attending, contact 221B Partners at info@221bpartners.com. About 221B Partners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:April 12, 2024 Contact Information: Lake County physician sworn in as president ofIllinois State Medical Society CHICAGO – Piyush I. Vyas, M.D., was sworn in as president of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) during its recent annual meeting. He was previously elected president-elect in 2023. Dr. Vyas received his medical degree from MS University of Baroda in Baroda, India, and completed his radiology residency at Cook County Hospital. Dr. Vyas is board-certified in diagnostic radiology. Since 2004, he has been an attending physician at Lovell Federal Health Care Center, where he served as chief of radiology and nuclear medicine until 2018. Since 2018, he has been the associate director, Clinical Support Services. He was also assistant professor of radiology with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science from 2005 to 2016 and served asvice chairman of radiology from 2012 to 2016. Currently he is an associate professor of radiology at Rosalind Franklin and actively involved in teaching medical students. He is also a valued member of the admissions committee at the university. He has been an ISMS member for 40 years and has served for many years as an ISMS alternate delegate and delegate to the AMA, as well as a past trustee and chair of the ISMS Governmental Affairs Council. Dr. Vyas served as president of the Lake County Medical Society for two separate terms and served on multiple committees, at the county and state level. He is also a past president of the Indian American Medical Association. Dr. Vyas’term as ISMS president will run through April 2025. ### |
Disaster Checklist for Newspapers
Click Image to Find the IPA Disaster Checklist!
