New Orleans changes policy on victims’ rap sheets
Feb 1, 2012, 11:00 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The New Orleans Police Department is changing its policy and will no longer put the arrest record for slaying victims on news releases.
Superintendent Ronal Serpas says he still believes it is necessary to share the link between criminal behavior and the city’s killings, but acknowledged Wednesday there were good arguments against it.
Families of slain victim’s say the practice was insensitive, and others said it sent a message that the victims got what was coming to them.
Serpas says after consulting with local clergy, he decided to stop the year-old practice. He says the department will now release an overview of the victims’ arrest records once a month without the person’s name.
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