In general, the Times does not publish the names of suspects in a crime until they are officially charged. I say in general, because there are exceptions to almost any rule that are dictated by circumstances about the crime.
This morning, our newsroom was coming off the Labor Day weekend holiday. We didnt have a newspaper edition Monday, so there wasnt anyone in the office Monday to receive the fax from the New Glarus Police Department, announcing that charges were likely to be filed soon against three 17-year-old males in connection with some April burglaries.
The news release included the names of the three suspects, two of whom are said to have confessed to the crimes. None of the three suspects had yet been taken into custody, and none of them have yet been charged (as of this posting).
I had serious reservations about publishing the names of the suspects in the Times prior to charges being filed. It goes against our policy and sense of fairness. In my mind, it didnt matter whether the names had been released by the New Glarus Police Department. Charges still had not been filed. We double-checked with the Green County District Attorneys office.
But we werent able to do so, and talk to the New Glarus Police Department, before our news pages had to be completed before 9 a.m. this morning. So theres no story in todays newspaper edition.
But we do have a story online now, posted without included the names of the suspects. Those names will appear in the Times only after they have been officially charged by the state with a crime.
Do you think we made the right call? Should we have included the suspects names in the story? Was it right for the New Glarus Police Department to release the names before charges were filed?
Im interested in what you have to say.
This morning, our newsroom was coming off the Labor Day weekend holiday. We didnt have a newspaper edition Monday, so there wasnt anyone in the office Monday to receive the fax from the New Glarus Police Department, announcing that charges were likely to be filed soon against three 17-year-old males in connection with some April burglaries.
The news release included the names of the three suspects, two of whom are said to have confessed to the crimes. None of the three suspects had yet been taken into custody, and none of them have yet been charged (as of this posting).
I had serious reservations about publishing the names of the suspects in the Times prior to charges being filed. It goes against our policy and sense of fairness. In my mind, it didnt matter whether the names had been released by the New Glarus Police Department. Charges still had not been filed. We double-checked with the Green County District Attorneys office.
But we werent able to do so, and talk to the New Glarus Police Department, before our news pages had to be completed before 9 a.m. this morning. So theres no story in todays newspaper edition.
But we do have a story online now, posted without included the names of the suspects. Those names will appear in the Times only after they have been officially charged by the state with a crime.
Do you think we made the right call? Should we have included the suspects names in the story? Was it right for the New Glarus Police Department to release the names before charges were filed?
Im interested in what you have to say.
