Would You Smile in Your Mug Shot?
A local college student was arrested here yesterday for stealing lottery tickets from the store where she worked. She cashed in $20 worth and now could spend up to five years in prison. Very sad indeed. I’d leave it at that except for one remarkable thing that caused me to pause. The woman smiled in her mug shot. Not the deranged smile of a twisted mind, but a beautifully confident smile, as if posing for a graduation photo.
It made me wonder whether smiling in a mug shot would be helpful during the judicial process. Mug shots are usually published with any newspaper story detailing the alleged crime, and I have to admit most people take lousy mug shots. They either sport an angry glare or look completely bewildered. But pulling off a grin in a mug shot is difficult. One runs the risk of appearing smug, as if taunting the wheels of justice.
This woman struck the right balance. Her look not only conveyed that she was friendly, but also made her look innocent of the crime. Clearly, she was already trying to win the jury’s sympathy.
Comments
That's a hoot! I wonder what she was smiling about at that very moment. . .
Posted by: Popeye | July 16, 2007 4:43 PM
Looks suspiciously like a friend of mine from college; though I just talked with her and she was (happily) in Alabama. Hmmm, perhaps I should call her back....
Posted by: Simmons | July 16, 2007 11:40 PM
Would love to know the same thing, Popeye.
That's funny. Simmons.
Posted by: jd | July 17, 2007 10:40 PM
Thanks. And hey, don't you have a good little column in the current issue of Terrain.org?!?
Posted by: Simmons | July 19, 2007 2:15 PM
Ah yes, an article. I knew there was something I overlooked posting about. See my most recent post, and thanks again Simmons for the opportunity to contribute to the current issue.
Posted by: jd | July 20, 2007 8:14 AM