McMichael, instructor of communications, spoke with The Wall Street Journal about Wake County's decision to remove its mugshot database.
Elon University instructor of communications Pate McMichael was featured in a recent Wall Street Journal article examining Wake County’s decision to remove roughly 400,000 mug shots from its public website, a move that has sparked debate over privacy and government transparency.
The article, “This North Carolina County Is Taking Mug Shots Offline. Not Everyone Agrees,” explores the county’s plan to eliminate online access to booking photos spanning two decades. County officials say the change is partly prompted by concerns that the database continues to display mug shots associated with charges that have since been expunged. Once the portal is taken offline, members of the public will instead be able to access the records through two in-person kiosks in Raleigh.
McMichael, director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition, told The Wall Street Journal that he understands the county’s reasoning but views the decision within a broader trend of restricting access to public records in North Carolina.
“If government is out there arresting people, taking pictures of them,” McMichael said, “we should be able to access that.”
The article examines competing concerns surrounding the public availability of booking photos. Advocates for greater restrictions argue that mug shots can remain online long after charges are dismissed or expunged, potentially affecting employment and housing opportunities.