Photo: The Image Bank Unreleased
A Florida sheriff’s office is under fire after publicly posting the mugshot of a nine-year-old Black boy arrested for allegedly bringing a knife to school and threatening classmates, per Atlanta Black Star.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said the child was arrested on October 9 and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Deputies allege the boy pulled a pocketknife from his backpack during a recess fight and threatened to stab another student. A second student also reported being approached with the knife.
The boy was booked into jail and later released to a parent pending his next court date. The sheriff’s office posted the boy’s full name, age, mugshot, and arrest details on its Facebook page, immediately sparking backlash.
Many Facebook users condemned the decision to share the mugshot and name of a minor. Critics pointed to the adultification and criminalization of Black children and broader systemic issues like the school-to-prison pipeline.
“I don’t agree with this at all. While I absolutely do not support his behavior or bringing a weapon to school, this is still a 9-year-old child,” one user wrote. “There should be statutes in place to protect children this young. This feels more like trauma and child abuse than justice.”
“One, this is a minor — why is his picture being shown? And two, makes me wonder if he’s being bullied at school to the point he feels the need for a knife," another person said.
Under Florida Statute 985.04, law enforcement is legally allowed to release the name and photo of a juvenile charged with a felony. However, families can request that the photo be removed from official websites. If not taken down within 10 days, the agency could face civil penalties.
Despite the backlash, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office defended its decision, citing a policy adopted in 2018.
“We have not had any repeat offenders since we have put this in place,” spokesperson Allison Merritt said in a statement. “We are going to continue that to maintain the safety of our children and staff.”
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