The arrest records of individuals in Laurel County are already available through other legitimate means, such as court records searches that are readily available, easy to access, and updated with accurate information about an individual's case. There is no positive or impactful reason for posting these mugshots on Facebook where community members and page followers are free to comment, unencumbered by any accountability from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office page administrators, and up to date case and conviction information is not provided.

The comment section remains unmoderated, despite a disclaimer on each and every post that indicates they will be based on certain criteria. Community members are enabled and emboldened to post hate speech, personal attacks, and obscenities that are shaming and serve no purpose for community engagement, support, or protection.

Commenters who repeatedly violate the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office page guidelines are never removed from the page, nor are their obscene and offensive attacks even deleted. They publicly show contempt for members of their own community, which does not align with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office values of protecting and serving. When a member of the page disagrees with the practice or posts any criticism of the department, that member is blocked from the page, which is a violation of that person's first amendment rights.  If the Laurel County Sheriff's Office did not post these mugshots, there would not be a place for people to further degrade the individuals.

Inaccuracies relating to arrests are posted and remain on the page as is, despite the LCSO being alerted of the incorrect information.  

Shame has never been a tool of social support, protection, reform, engagement, recovery, or human dignity. It does not serve the community or decrease crime.

Laurel County Sheriff's Office has a responsibility to protect every member of the community, and posting these images only further allows toxic abuse in a public forum. By not moderating the comments as they say they will, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is condoning this behavior. Condoning further divide and unrest in the community they have sworn to protect and serve.

The Laurel County Sheriff's Office has the ability to cease posting mugshots altogether and fill their page instead with helpful community information, education, and support opportunities. By refusing to moderate these comments or turning off comments altogether they are complicit in furthering community divide, shame, and hate. They have a responsibility to do better for ALL members of the community.