Regarding the article “Police: Pittsburgh woman accused of arson in Greenfield apartment fire case” (Jan. 16, TribLIVE): The American criminal justice system is founded on the principle that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. Yet news outlets print the names of arrested adults, regardless of acquittal or conviction.
A name may give the public a sense of finality; however, it has the potential of setting back jury selection. And the digital trail a news story leaves can blacklist the wrongly accused and damage their reputations, including preventing them from obtaining future employment.
A news story could use simply a description of the arrested person. The removal of the name removes no substance. Then the news outlet can publish a name and a more detailed account if the arrested person is convicted.
Olivia Hilborn
Peters
The writer is a student in the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.