California Police Use Lego Heads in Suspect Photos to Comply with New Law

The Murrieta Police Department adapts to Assembly Bill 994 & Penal Code 13665 by obscuring suspects' identities with playful images.

A California police department is using photoshopped Lego heads to protect suspect identities in social media posts, complying with new state laws.
The Murrieta Police Department has been obscuring faces of suspects arrested for nonviolent crimes, a practice predating the law but now mandated by Assembly Bill 994 & Penal Code 13665.
The law, effective from Jan. 1, prohibits law enforcement from sharing suspect photos for nonviolent crimes and requires removal of mugshots from social media after 14 days.
Critics argue the practice protects criminals, while supporters cite the importance of protecting individuals' rights and presumption of innocence.
The use of Lego heads, among other placeholders, has sparked debate over the balance between public safety, transparency, and individual rights.