Would you run the name

[Desk_dude]

Four football stars at Glades Central in Florida may be charged with sexual assault. They have been suspended from the team.
The Palm Beach Post has run the names but TV outlets are not listing the names because they are juveniles:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/community-rallies-around-suspended-glades-central-football-players-2009296.html

 

[Matt1735]

Yes, their names have been in the paper all year. You can't say they are suspended from the team without naming them or giving a reason why. It might be different if they weren't on the team or the team's season was over, but there is a price for fame.

 

[Flip Wilson]

Jason Jones, 42, said the boys shouldn't be in trouble. "They ain't put no gun to her head. This kind of thing goes on every day," Jones said. "These were popular guys and the girls want to get with them."

Good grief.

 

[93Devil]

Am I missing something? Were these boys charged by the police or arrested? Even if they were, I would go with no. But if they were not charged or arrested, hell no.

And the quote from Mr. Jones is an all-timer.

 

[Gator]

Well, you have to explain to your readers why the players have been suspended. Get a violation of team rules, etc., and name the players that way. Let the readers connect the dots.

 

[93Devil]

Well, you have to explain to your readers why the players have been suspended. Get a violation of team rules, etc., and name the players that way. Let the readers connect the dots.

What if the police never charge these boys?

 

[JR]

How old are these guys?

Up here you can't publish the names of any person under the age of 18 who is charged or may be charged with a crime

 

[Rhody31]

How old are these guys?

Up here you can't publish the names of any person under the age of 18 who is charged or may be charged with a crime

Well, you have to explain to your readers why the players have been suspended. Get a violation of team rules, etc., and name the players that way. Let the readers connect the dots.

Bingo.
If they're 18, you write based off the police report. If not, you ask the coach why they're suspended and hope he says.
If not, you set it up so your readers can connect the dots - but you better be damn sure the four suspended players are being suspended for the reason you're implying.

JR - even if someone else says they're the acccused?

 

[LongTimeListener]

What the **** is wrong with that town? That **** is as bad as the Joe Paterno apologists. Jesus Christ.

 

[JR]

JR - even if someone else says they're the acccused?

Not sure what you mean but no, you cannot publish the name of a young offender unless he/she is tried in adult court.

Under the Young Offenders Act, the youth’s name was not published unless he or she was tried in adult court. The YCJA prohibits any publication of names or information that could lead to identifying a young person who has been dealt with under the YCJA. The exceptions to this rule are youth who receive an adult sentence or are presently missing and considered dangerous and “unlawfully at large.

 

[Gator]

JR - even if someone else says they're the acccused?

Not sure what you mean but no, you cannot publish the name of a young offender unless he/she is tried in adult court.

Under the Young Offenders Act, the youth’s name was not published unless he or she was tried in adult court. The YCJA prohibits any publication of names or information that could lead to identifying a young person who has been dealt with under the YCJA. The exceptions to this rule are youth who receive an adult sentence or are presently missing and considered dangerous and “unlawfully at large.

You don't have to mention anything about any charges, or any crime. But readers will want to know why four stars didn't play in the game, and it's your job to report why they weren't in the game.

Put this on the coach, the AD, whoever. I would tell them that I need a reason, and when pressed, they can say 'No comment.' But again, I would name the players who didn't play.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

JR - even if someone else says they're the acccused?

Not sure what you mean but no, you cannot publish the name of a young offender unless he/she is tried in adult court.

Under the Young Offenders Act, the youth’s name was not published unless he or she was tried in adult court. The YCJA prohibits any publication of names or information that could lead to identifying a young person who has been dealt with under the YCJA. The exceptions to this rule are youth who receive an adult sentence or are presently missing and considered dangerous and “unlawfully at large.

JR,

There are no restrictions in the US. Newsrooms generally set their own policies. In mine, we typically do not name a juvenile unless they are charged in adult court.

 

[playthrough]

What the **** is wrong with that town? That **** is as bad as the Joe Paterno apologists. Jesus Christ.

Like the story said, it's one of those sideways-crazy football towns. They churn out college and NFL players like it's nothing. No surprise whatsoever to see all the apologists.

 

[rascalface]

I believe juvenile records are public information in Florida in felony cases.

 

[Bradley Guire]

If they're charged, name them. If they're under 18 and charged as adults, name them ... if you can back it up with an indictment or criminal complaint. Otherwise, all you can do is say they were suspended. Anything else could put you at risk of libeling someone.

 

[Rhody31]

JR - even if someone else says they're the acccused?

Not sure what you mean but no, you cannot publish the name of a young offender unless he/she is tried in adult court.

Under the Young Offenders Act, the youth’s name was not published unless he or she was tried in adult court. The YCJA prohibits any publication of names or information that could lead to identifying a young person who has been dealt with under the YCJA. The exceptions to this rule are youth who receive an adult sentence or are presently missing and considered dangerous and “unlawfully at large.

JR,
Basically, I meant if you asked the coach "Why is Johnny not playing Friday?" and he replies "Because he got arrested for assault." Could you run that?

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

JR - even if someone else says they're the acccused?

Not sure what you mean but no, you cannot publish the name of a young offender unless he/she is tried in adult court.

Under the Young Offenders Act, the youth’s name was not published unless he or she was tried in adult court. The YCJA prohibits any publication of names or information that could lead to identifying a young person who has been dealt with under the YCJA. The exceptions to this rule are youth who receive an adult sentence or are presently missing and considered dangerous and “unlawfully at large.

JR,
Basically, I meant if you asked the coach "Why is Johnny not playing Friday?" and he replies "Because he got arrested for assault." Could you run that?

Yes. Citing the coach, who would be a major-league dumbass for saying it.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I doubt we would run the name's until the kids were charged.
Would I write a story about the player's being suspended? Yes. But I would not say why.
No charges have been filed. That is a huge factor.
These kids haven't been charged with a crime. And it's poor form to drag them through mud without due process. It's all **** poor the paper never attempted to contact the kids in question, their parents or their attorney if they have one.

I also think it's a load of crap the female is not ID'd. If charges are not filed it will be because investigators determined the sex was consensual. So the boys will be labeled as sex offenders, while nothing happens to the accuser.
I think the AP's standard of not identifying victims of alleged sexual assault is a ****ty - esp. when those charges are proven to be unfounded.
This happened in our area recently. We never ran the story, because no charges were filed. The girl consented to perform sex on two kids at the same time at a party. It was in front on a large group of people and videoed. Dad went to the cops. No charges. No story.

 

[BillyT]

You can report they were suspended, or at the very least that regular starters did not play.

If you have that and a separate story saying six kids were suspended form the team for a crime, that wraps it up.

There are states, by the way, in which 16 is the cutoff.

Also, another town of apologists -- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/sports/wayne-hills-high-school-plays-for-title-minus-9-players.html?_r=1

 

[mythirdalt]

This one's got me intrigued, so I looked it up on the Palm Beach Post web site. The story you posted was the follow-up. This was the one, and it looks like they did try to contact the kids:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/school-police-probe-allegations-of-sexual-assault-by-2007719.html.

Either way, I'm not sure my paper would name the kids, but considering a couple of these guys were stars players, the public's going to want to know why they didn't want to play - and you have the mom of the victim on the record here.