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US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

theguardian.com

101–110 of 390 posts

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#101

I used to work with someone who was arrested for having a beer in his possession when he was 20 years old. The circumstances were pretty colorful, and so it made the local news. He had since worked his way into management at the company we worked for. One day he mentioned that the article about his arrest finally fell off the Google index after more than a decade, and he was relieved about that. One of his reports in…

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Based on what?

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#102

I used to work with someone who was arrested for having a beer in his possession when he was 20 years old. The circumstances were pretty colorful, and so it made the local news. He had since worked his way into management at the company we worked for. One day he mentioned that the article about his arrest finally fell off the Google index after more than a decade, and he was relieved about that. One of his reports in…

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Kind of an ironic comment coming from an anonymous burner account.

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Restricted access highway, no cyclists allowed or present. I don't think “reckless” is the right word. Clueless, really. I didn’t know there was a problem until I lost traction. Whatever you want to call it, do you really think that’s worth a criminal charge? Possibly destroying my livelihood over this? Do you think the possibility of criminal charges is what stops me from doing it again, versus the potential damage…

You hit another vehicle, at excessive speed, in poor weather. Fortune meant that the occupants of that other vehicle were not injured or worse. Writing it off as "Oh, I was just clueless" is a little downplaying. Yes, it's a one off instance, but the stakes in vehicles can be very high, hence our requirements for licensing and insurance.

Well I met those requirements and still didn’t know enough to avoid this.

On one hand, there’s a responsibility to seek further knowledge and self-evaluate. I accept responsibility for not doing that here.

On the other hand, having the government sign off on your training as officially adequate, then threatening to jail you and put a conviction on your record when it wasn’t, seems rather uncool. Hold me liable for damages? Sure. Ticket me? Ok. But charge me with an actual crime?

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#108

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> That stupid shit you said in some obscure forum when you were a teenager

What's the first presidential election going to be like when the first candidate who was old enough to have a Facebook or myspace runs for election? Each opponent will do anything they can do disparage the 35+ year olds character with the words he uttered as a teenager.

I think one of the unintentional consequences of this newspaper move will be that a great deal of our history will be lost. When I was a kid, the libraries touted how cool it was to peruse old stories in the local paper on microfiche. Now that info is online for $8 per article.

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#109

> One in three U.S. adults has been arrested by age 23. Does that seem crazy to anyone else? I'm in Ireland and can't think of one person in my extended family and friends that has any interaction with the police beyond routine insurance/DUI checkpoints or reporting incidents like car accidents.

Yes it seems crazy but this map is crazy too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarcera...

Re: US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a 'clean slate'

#110

I'm ok with this, as long as it's systemic. Otherwise it's just another way for people with means to get a leg up on people without means. If it's, "we delete all crime stories after N years", then fine, especially for low level, non violent stuff. The punishment for crimes should come from the justice system and people should be able to pay their dues and move on.

> especially for low level, non violent stuff This is codeword for financial, white collar crimes. So, it is definitely a policy serving the rich.

I think GP probably meant "stupid stuff young people do" minor drugs, drinking underage or even DUI, fighting, theft, vandalism.

If you were under ~25, and it was "stupid kid stuff" why ruin someone's life.

If you're 40 with a good job and get caught embezzeling, totally different in my view. Old enough to know better.

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