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County prosecutors urge clearer safeguards in SB 1250, warn about minors and evidence handling
Summary
Canyon County Chief Civil Prosecuting Attorney Aaron Bozzoli told the committee SB 1250 may not sufficiently prevent dissemination of sensitive images, especially of minors, and recommended verification procedures and limiting possession to prevent resale or publication.
Aaron Bozzoli, chief civil prosecuting attorney for Canyon County, said his office supports the bill's aim but does not believe current draft language goes far enough to stop dissemination of particularly sensitive images — including naked minors — that could surface from law-enforcement or coroner investigations. "I don't believe that this bill addresses enough of that to protect the complete dissemination of this material," he said.
Bozzoli recommended statutory or procedural safeguards such as requiring an affidavit under penalty of perjury to verify next-of-kin status, permitting family members to review images on-site rather than take possession, and preserving prosecutorial discretion where release might compromise long-running or cold investigations. He cited ongoing litigation in Canyon County seeking release of images and noted that cases sometimes reopen years later based on new evidence.
