I get letters from readers all the time. Recently, I got one that made a good point about e-merican culture and the modern day Rome we really are. This is from a friend in the midwest:
I saw this girl at work with a $1 paper pointing out some guy she knew. At a closer look I noticed that the entire newspaper was mug shots of recent arrests with a little caption (Extreme DUI, Sex-Offender, Unpaid Fines, etc) under each photo. I couldn't believe its legal to profit off this kind of thing! Worse still - I can't believe people actually buy it!
Here's an actual PDF version of an issue:
These publishers should be real proud. Awfully nice of them to offer larger pictures for the sex offenders and notice how the paper really splurges to make sure sex offenders get color pictures. Perhaps that's thanks to Sears who advertises on the very same page.
They even have a kiddie corner for juveniles! And oh look - The Tears and Smiles and Deadbeat Parents sections are amongst the most compassionate! I guess no one is safe, despite the old saying "Innocent until Proven Guilty." After all, the listings in this paper show arrests, not convictions.
For some reason, when CorMedia initially requested access to all this info, NC said they could not differentiate between arrests and convictions for some reason, maybe it would be too much work. Here is how the Slammer Team responded to my inquiries regarding the legality of profiting directly through the sale of public records and by selling advertising linked to such records...
Hello,
Thanks for your email and interest in The Slammer!
It sounds like you're interested in the legal side of newspaper publishing. It is very interesting to say the least.
The first amendment of the US Constitution provides the framework for the ability of The Slammer to publish each week.
Arrest records, including arrest photographs, are considered public records in all 50 states.
There is nothing illegal about selling a newspaper, or (attempting to) profit from the sale of that newspaper.
There is nothing illegal about selling advertisements to be included in a newspaper.
Neither Arizona law nor Federal law would "allow" newspaper publishing, they would only make laws that could attempt to "outlaw" newspaper publishing. Such a law would be unconstitutional, and therefore illegal.
Thanks for taking the time to write and best wishes!
The Slammer Team
Isaac W. Cornetti
Publisher
CorMedia LLC
PO Box 12531
Raleigh, NC 27605-2531
Email : publisher@slammernews.com
Fax : 866.730.2221
Phone : 866.736.5530
Mobile : 919.434.4475
I followed up and asked them if it does not violate 5th and 14th amendments by publicly criminalizing citizens before any due process takes place - since these people have been arrested not convicted.
They haven't responded. That was weeks ago now.
Thanks for sharing this letter. It really goes to show that there really is a niche market out there for sadistic fucks who slurp up shit like The Slammer, Faces of Death, C.O.P.S and things along those lines. Really makes you wonder how far away we are from returning back to gladiator events. It amazes me that folks will go out of their way and even pay to see other people suffering. All one really has to do to play voyeur to a world of people downtrodden by society is take the city bus to work one day.
I saw this girl at work with a $1 paper pointing out some guy she knew. At a closer look I noticed that the entire newspaper was mug shots of recent arrests with a little caption (Extreme DUI, Sex-Offender, Unpaid Fines, etc) under each photo. I couldn't believe its legal to profit off this kind of thing! Worse still - I can't believe people actually buy it!
Here's an actual PDF version of an issue:
These publishers should be real proud. Awfully nice of them to offer larger pictures for the sex offenders and notice how the paper really splurges to make sure sex offenders get color pictures. Perhaps that's thanks to Sears who advertises on the very same page.
They even have a kiddie corner for juveniles! And oh look - The Tears and Smiles and Deadbeat Parents sections are amongst the most compassionate! I guess no one is safe, despite the old saying "Innocent until Proven Guilty." After all, the listings in this paper show arrests, not convictions.
For some reason, when CorMedia initially requested access to all this info, NC said they could not differentiate between arrests and convictions for some reason, maybe it would be too much work. Here is how the Slammer Team responded to my inquiries regarding the legality of profiting directly through the sale of public records and by selling advertising linked to such records...
Hello,
Thanks for your email and interest in The Slammer!
It sounds like you're interested in the legal side of newspaper publishing. It is very interesting to say the least.
The first amendment of the US Constitution provides the framework for the ability of The Slammer to publish each week.
Arrest records, including arrest photographs, are considered public records in all 50 states.
There is nothing illegal about selling a newspaper, or (attempting to) profit from the sale of that newspaper.
There is nothing illegal about selling advertisements to be included in a newspaper.
Neither Arizona law nor Federal law would "allow" newspaper publishing, they would only make laws that could attempt to "outlaw" newspaper publishing. Such a law would be unconstitutional, and therefore illegal.
Thanks for taking the time to write and best wishes!
The Slammer Team
Isaac W. Cornetti
Publisher
CorMedia LLC
PO Box 12531
Raleigh, NC 27605-2531
Email : publisher@slammernews.com
Fax : 866.730.2221
Phone : 866.736.5530
Mobile : 919.434.4475
I followed up and asked them if it does not violate 5th and 14th amendments by publicly criminalizing citizens before any due process takes place - since these people have been arrested not convicted.
They haven't responded. That was weeks ago now.
Thanks for sharing this letter. It really goes to show that there really is a niche market out there for sadistic fucks who slurp up shit like The Slammer, Faces of Death, C.O.P.S and things along those lines. Really makes you wonder how far away we are from returning back to gladiator events. It amazes me that folks will go out of their way and even pay to see other people suffering. All one really has to do to play voyeur to a world of people downtrodden by society is take the city bus to work one day.
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