A Florida sheriff’s office is under fire after publicly posting the name and mugshot of a 9-year-old boy on social media, leading to a wave of criticism and questions about law enforcement treatment of children. According to the New York Post, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office uploaded the unblurred photo to Facebook after the child was arrested for allegedly threatening a classmate with a pocketknife at a Crescent City elementary school.

The post quickly went viral. Many users condemned the decision to publicize the child’s identity. Despite the backlash, the sheriff’s office defended the post. In coverage by WTSP, public information officer Allison Merritt said the practice is based on public safety. “Our parents are aware of the children that their students are hanging out with. They’re aware of what is going on in their schools, and we are going to continue that to maintain the safety of our children and staff at all the Putnam County schools,” she explained. Merritt also stated that since implementing the policy in 2018, “We have not had any repeat offenders.”

The sheriff’s office said the child was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. The post described how the boy allegedly brought a pocketknife to school, got into a fight, and threatened multiple students. 

Florida Statute 985.04 allows law enforcement to publicly release identifying information of juveniles charged with felonies. Families do have the right to request removal of a juvenile’s photo, and agencies can face civil penalties if they fail to comply. The sheriff’s office said its policy of naming and photographing minors charged with felonies has been in place for years.

A criminal defense attorney, who specializes in juvenile law, told 10 Tampa Bay that even though Florida law allows law enforcement to release mugshots of minors charged with felonies, doing so can cause severe and lasting harm to a child. She argued that “just because we can post the mugshot of a nine-year-old doesn’t mean we should,” warning that public exposure at such a young age could impact the child’s reputation, education, and mental health for years. 

Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach did not respond to requests for comment from the New York Post. However, the office maintains it will continue the policy as a deterrent and transparency measure.

See the news clip below: