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Today we honor and remember those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is a time set aside for prayer, contemplation, and immense gratitude for those who courageously fought for our freedoms.

Semper Fi.

TEKScreen will be closed on Monday, May 25th in honor of Memorial Day. All courts will also be closed. We will re-open with regular hours on Tuesday, May 26th.

Thoughts?

Georgia Senate Bill 482 has passed through both chambers of the state legislature and is now awaiting consideration by Governor Brian Kemp. The bill, which seeks to amend the Georgia Open Records Act, addresses public access to law enforcement videos, including police body camera footage and mugshots.

The bill introduces new requirements for individuals requesting these public records, such as specifying the name of the individual in the video or providing the date, time, and location of the incident depicted. The bill also stipulates that all requests for such footage must be submitted in person and on an individual basis for each recording.

One of the more significant provisions of SB 482 is its creation of exemptions for certain media outlets. Members of the Georgia Press Association would face fewer restrictions when seeking access to records. However, smaller news organizations may still face challenges in obtaining such records under the new law.

This distinction between larger and smaller media outlets has raised concerns about creating a two-tiered system of access to public records. Critics argue that this could limit the ability of smaller organizations, as well as independent journalists, to conduct effective oversight of law enforcement.

State Sen. Brian Strickland, the sponsor of SB 482, has stated that the bill’s primary purpose is not to restrict access but to prevent misuse and exploitation of public records. In particular, the bill aims to curb the online commercialization of mugshots, which critics say can harm individuals by exposing them to public humiliation and financial exploitation. According to Strickland, the bill would ensure that access to sensitive records, such as police body camera footage and mugshots, is not used for profit or to damage the reputation of individuals.

“We all support the First Amendment, we support access to records, it’s very important that we preserve the right to get body cam. We preserve the right to get mugshots as well,” Strickland said. “But we should not be preserving the right to profit off of it and make money off of it and embarrass people.”

A significant issue that SB 482 seeks to address is the practice of mugshot exploitation by websites that profit from publishing arrest photos. These types of websites do not post mugshots as part of a news story or criminal reporting; instead, they focus on posting a weekly collection of mugshots from individuals booked in jail, regardless of whether the charges are eventually dismissed or if the person is simply being held without charges. For example, one such site, created within the last year, specifically targets individuals booked in the Coffee County Jail, posting only their mugshots with listed charges and typically offers no additional context or details about the cases.

The harm caused by these websites has led to a broader conversation about the ethics of publishing mugshots without context or accountability. For many, the publication of their mugshot, especially when charges are dropped or they are acquitted, can result in significant personal and professional consequences. This includes losing jobs, experiencing social stigmatization, and suffering emotional distress. In some tragic cases, this has even led to suicides.

One well-documented example involves Kayla Smith, a young woman whose mugshot was posted online by a commercial website. Tragically, Smith later took her own life. Her case, along with others, has raised awareness about the harmful effects of mugshot exploitation, motivating some states, including Georgia, to pass legislation aimed at curbing the practice.

SB 482 addresses this issue by imposing stricter requirements for accessing mugshots. Under the bill, individuals requesting a mugshot will need to identify the person depicted in the image and submit the request in person. This is part of an effort to limit the ease with which websites can obtain and profit from these sensitive images. Critics of the current system argue that while these websites may generate revenue by posting mugshots, they do so at the expense of individuals' well-being and privacy.

Critics of SB 482 argue that while the bill targets mugshot exploitation, it could hinder transparency and accountability, especially in police misconduct cases. The bill’s restrictions on body camera footage and public records could delay access to vital information, complicating efforts to hold law enforcement accountable. Advocates like Free Press and the Georgia First Amendment Foundation warn that these limits could undermine public access to crucial law enforcement records, weakening oversight.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions allowing law enforcement agencies to redact certain videos, especially those depicting victims and witnesses, which could further complicate efforts to scrutinize police interactions.

SB 482 has emerged amid ongoing debates about the balance between privacy, transparency, and the public’s right to know. While the bill’s supporters believe it will protect individuals from the misuse of their images and personal information, critics worry it will undermine key provisions of the Georgia Open Records Act, which has long been a pillar of government transparency.

In its current form, the bill would allow law enforcement to deny or delay requests for police footage, especially when it involves sensitive topics such as death or distress. This could diminish public oversight, especially in cases where video footage is crucial to understanding police actions.

Governor Kemp has 40 days (by May 12) to sign or veto the bill. If he signs or takes no action by this date, the bill will become law.

But Sunday is coming!

Thoughts?

Georgia lawmakers are looking to crack down on publications and websites that profit by posting mugshots.

So, we have people out there that think that mugshots are entertainment, State Senator Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) said.

Senate Bill 482 would block sites like the Georgia Gazette from mass mugshot requests.

The bill says, Requests for booking photographs shall be made in person and as separate requests for each booking photograph.

In a 2023 Channel 2 Action News investigation, told you about the Georgia Gazette.

It is an online-only publication that scrapes data from sheriffs offices across the state to post all booking photos, even misdemeanors in 80 Georgia counties.

The Georgia Gazette even puts its watermark on those public documents.

In 2023, LaShawn Pressley lost her job as a home health nurse when her clients saw her on The Georgia Gazette.

Its my livelihood. Its my life, said Pressley.

She had three speeding tickets settled by paying a small fine. But that information isnt on The Georgia Gazette, just a mugshot and the words failure to appear for a finger-printable charge - misdemeanor.

I lost a job. And I lost a capability even of finding another one, said Pressley.

This is not meant to impact 99%% of the people out there. This is meant to go after those that are abusing the system, that are overworking our sheriffs, trying to make money off images and ruining peoples lives, Strickland said.

Just last week, we told you how 23-year-old Jarrett Franco Modica was charged in Cobb County for a felony crime he did not commit.

The Cobb County District Attorney issued an official warrant dismissal for a stolen gun charge for a firearm Modica bought legally.

But his mug shot is still on the Georgia Gazette.

You dont want a mugshot just posted out here. You dont want that still lingering over you years to come, Modica said.

The Georgia Gazette does have a portal to remove mugshots and says it follows Georgia law for removals.

But That follows someone the rest of their life. That can affect them getting a job and obviously affect their family from here on out, Strickland said.

The bill passed committee and is scheduled for a vote by the full Senate this week.

Tell us what you think in the comments.

2026 Cox Media Group

Dear Valued Clients,

We hope you're doing well and staying warm as we head today! A quick, friendly heads-up from the team at TEKScreen:

Our office will be closed on: Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We'll be back bright and early on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, ready to serve you as usual.

Just a gentle reminder—many courts across the country, including federal and state courts, will also be closed that day in observance of the holiday. This means you may notice some minor delays in the processing and completion of background screening.

Rest assured, our team is always monitoring things closely, and we'll jump right back in to keep everything moving smoothly once operations resume. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding during this short pause—it's a meaningful day for reflection and service, and we're so grateful for partners like you!

Wishing you and your team a peaceful, joyful holiday filled with warmth, family time, and maybe a little extra rest.

Thank you for choosing TEKScreen—we're so glad to have you with us!

~The TEKScreen Team

Happy New Year to our client family!

We will be closed New Year’s Day and re-open on January 5th, 2026 at 9am.

Merry Christmas to all our clients who are like family to us!

We’re proud to host our second Coffee & Connections with the Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. It’s an honor to welcome incredible business leaders from across our community and start the morning together over a great breakfast. We look forward to gathering with you all tomorrow morning!

Happy Thanksgiving!