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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face="Palatino Linotype" color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=689422318-21042006>Ted, Chas,
Visionaries,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face="Palatino Linotype" color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=689422318-21042006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face="Palatino Linotype" color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=689422318-21042006>It is a delicate line, and I appreciate
this discussion about it. One thing that we consider in doing a press
release as opposed to just putting it on the board and letting people view it or
not at their discretion is the issue of public safety. In practice what
this means is that I don't do press releases about specific people arrested for
domestic violence, for example, since the crime target (victim) is specific and
personal. In all likelihood the general public is not in danger though the
specific victim is/might be. Likewise, I don't generally do a press
release and post a picture of a person who is arrested for small-scale
vandalism. Rapes, murders, random violent crimes, high profile offenses,
and offenses to the general public, however, do result in a broad press
release. We do not consider the identity of the accused; so, if I were
arrested for sexual assault or battery, for example, we'd issue a press release
about that, too. We're trying to balance the rights of the accused
with the rights of the public and of the press. In doing the releases
about an arrest, as an effort to portray things fairly, I generally stick to
information that was written in the probable cause affidavit (which is a public
document open to public review) as opposed to opining about the arrest or
crime. I also try to make it clear that the arrested party is "accused of
alleged" crimes instead of saying "hey, here's a rapist/murderer/etc." I
appreciate hearing thoughts on the issue particularly from the people who read
about our activities. Thank you.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face="Palatino Linotype" color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=689422318-21042006>--Jennifer</SPAN></FONT></DIV><!-- Converted from text/plain format -->
<P><FONT size=2>PIO Jennifer L. McFarland<BR>Latah County Sheriff's
Office<BR>Public Information Officer<BR>PO Box 8068<BR>Moscow, Idaho
83843<BR>(208) 882-2216<BR>Fax (208) 883-2281<BR><BR>Truth is the summit of
being; justice is the application of it to affairs.<BR>***Ralph Waldo
Emerson<BR><BR> </FONT> </P>
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