Summer Associate Karly Fisher’s article Mugshots in Oklahoma: Stigmatizing Native American Individuals and Communities was recently published by the Tulsa Law Review. Growing up in rural Oklahoma on the Osage Reservation, Karly witnessed the effects mugshots have on an individual’s reputation, especially if they were already at a socioeconomic disadvantage. Her interest in Native American law and her background as a Cherokee Nation Citizen prompted her to research these effects.
Karly's article argues that widely distributed mugshots significantly harm Native Americans in Oklahoma by fostering discrimination and racial profiling. Thus, legislative action is needed in Oklahoma to regulate this practice, as many other states have restricted mugshot publications due to their minimal societal benefit, potential to reinforce racial biases and unethical removal fees. The high incarceration rate in Oklahoma, combined with historical tensions between the State and Native American tribes highlights the issue. Daniel Carter (Principal, Tulsa) assisted Karly in reviewing and proofreading the article.
Read Karly’s article here.
