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Mug shot publishing is a growing industry that involves releasing and publishing mug shots online or in print. Releasing images of suspects who are not convicted of crimes raises many moral concerns. Often these images become popular online, sometimes going viral. Many of the individuals in the most popular images appear sick, injured, disfigured or mentally ill. Allowing these images to be published and spread in a sensationalized manner creates a societal injustice by trivializing the criminal justice system and the individuals who are part of it. In addition, the fact that many of the individuals in these images have not been convicted of any crimes undermines how society perceives criminals and criminal activity. Previously there has been little discussion about the ethical implications of this topic, which has allowed this industry to spread with little resistance from the public. As this industry grows and becomes more popular, it is important that society is made more aware about the consequences of such industry.
