ALBANY, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – New York State Police will stop releasing mugshots effective Wednesday afternoon, according to a press release. State lawmakers banned the release of mugshots as a part of the 2020 executive budget, which was approved over the weekend.
The bill, once signed by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, will make it illegal to release booking photos for all police agencies in the state. State troopers, as of Wednesday, already stopped the practice.
Previously the state police and other police agencies within the state had regularly released mugshots on their websites, in press releases and in response to media requests.
Governor Cuomo had also proposed banning the release of other booking information collected when someone is arrested, however the legislature eventually decided to just ban the mugshots.
Within the new policy officials can still release mugshots when it serves a law enforcement purpose such as a missing or wanted person.
