PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A controversial Facebook post from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism for publicly displaying the mugshot of a young child accused of menacing fellow students with a weapon.

The post, which has generated over 47,000 comments, includes the child’s arrest details alongside his booking photo. While many have condemned the decision as inappropriate and harmful to the minor, others support the sheriff’s office, praising its transparency.

Officials from the sheriff’s office have defended the move, citing a policy in place since 2018 intended to enhance school safety and parental awareness.

“We have not had any repeat offenders since implementing this policy,” stated Allison Merritt of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. “Parents are informed about the children their students associate with and what transpires in schools. We remain committed to maintaining the safety of children and staff in all Putnam County schools.”

The arrest occurred after the young boy allegedly brought a knife to Middleton-Burney Elementary School, threatening two classmates during recess, according to the sheriff’s office.

The child was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, booked into the Putnam County Jail, and later released to a parent until his court date.

Under Florida Statute 985.04, juveniles charged with a felony are not protected by confidentiality. That means their name, photo, and arrest report can legally be released.

However, the law also allows families to request that a photo be taken down from a website — and if it’s not removed within 10 days, the agency could face civil penalties.

“Just because we can post a mug shot of a nine-year-old doesn’t mean we should, but interestingly, there’s also a Florida statute that allows this family to demand that the photo be taken down and they can send a letter of certified mail,” says attorney Shannon Schott, a legal expert in juvenile law. “There are companies out there that will do that, and if the sheriff’s office doesn’t take it down within 10 days, they can actually be sued civilly.” 

Schott also says posting a child’s mugshot online can have lasting consequences.

“The juvenile justice system really is intended to keep things behind closed doors so a family can privately heal and move forward and help their child move forward. it’s really just a conflict between the way the sheriff thinks that things should be done and how the system actually works.”

Schott says even though the law allows it, sharing a 9-year-old’s photo publicly can impact the child’s mental health, future schooling, and chances at rehabilitation.

PCSO says the goal of posting mugshots, even of minors charged with felonies, is to inform parents and prevent repeat offenses.

The agency also says it has not had a single repeat juvenile offender since the policy began in 2018.

For now, the department says the post will remain online.