SMOKE CRACK GET BUSTED!!! - Semi Valley Sound LLC, Look Who’s Been Busted, and Personal Privacy
Just to make it clear to everyone who might be confused: I do not publish "Look Who's Been Busted."
EDIT 6:45 12/12/08:
WoodTV 8 did a short segment on this newspaper, based on an interview from a woman who saw this article and called the TV station. It aired at about 6:10 PM on Dec. 12. See the video here: WOOD TV Channel 8 Segment on Look Who's Been Busted.
EDIT 9:02 AM 02/25/09: Here's the news clip.
EDIT 12:49 PM 6/5/09:
Response from the guy who runs Busted: The Guy Who Runs Busted Is Kindof A Dick
I found a newspaper the other day that I had never seen before. It's called "Look Who's Been Busted," and is a compendium of Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan arrests. The front page of the newspaper is below. Click on the image for a high-resolution version. Click here for the back page: it's a "Faces of Meth" spread, and has close-ups of meth-rotted teeth. You've been warned.
Busted compiles information from the Kent County Inmate Lookup webpage. It's a twelve page newspaper, filled entirely with mugshots. The newspaper costs one dollar. On every other page or so there's a callout: "SMOKE CRACK GET BUSTED!!!", "SMOKE POT GET BUSTED!!!" or "ASSAULT GET BUSTED!!!" or similar.
Click "Read More" below to read the rest of this article, and to learn more about Semi Valley Sound, Busted Weekly, and what I think about it all.
I became interested in the Busted newspaper. Who publishes it? Why? Does it make a lot of money? Is this Grand Rapids/Kent County newspaper a one-off operation, or are there similar newspapers for other communities throughout the United States?
With those questions in mind, I did some Googling (and some Yahoo!ing, as well.)
The newspaper says that it’s published by Semi Valley Sound, LLC. Semi Valley Sound’s published mailing address is P.O. Box 4131, Ocala, FL 34478. Its e-mail address for advertising is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and I found an ad in the Ocala, Florida Craigslist for an advertising representative for the newspaper that lists its fax number as (352) 622-4209. The person who owns Busted Weekly is Dan Oakley - I found a LinkedIn profile for him by searching for bustedweekly on Google. Interestingly enough, Semi Valley Sound, LLC is incorporated in Delaware, America’s corporate tax haven. (See filing number 4512268.)
The newspaper does a relatively good job of disclaiming liability and accuracy. The front cover states, among other things, that “All content provided in Busted is deemed to be in the public domain. Busted only compiles information form [sic] public records for public consumption” and “The data in this publication provides arrest and booking information and should not be relied upon to determine an individual’s actual criminal record.”
With that in mind, what do you think about this newspaper? Although probably legal, it seems like a relatively scumbag-y thing to do: getting hit with a DUI in Michigan will cause you enough problems (potential jail time, thousands of dollars in fines, etc.) that it seems pretty cruel to make money off of selling and publicizing that person’s mugshot. Although the newspaper makes sure to claim that a person’s appearance in the newspaper doesn’t necessarily imply guilt, the newspaper’s format sure implies otherwise. Callouts saying “DRIVE DRUNK GET BUSTED!!!” implies guilt, whether or not the person arrested for drunk driving actually was drunk or not, much less whether they are convicted.
Anyway, I’m submitting this to Reddit, just to see what they think. If you have opinions or thoughts of your own about this, leave them in the comments at the bottom of this page.
Below are some high-res shots of the inside of the newspaper. Click on the thumbnails for the full version.
Posted on Nov 30, 2008 - 05:16 PM
Comments:
I for one feel that the busted paper is putting some uncalled for mug shots in their paper. For one why would they have to broadcast a person if they “drive without insurance” or “begging” why is that something that just has to be posted for everybody to see? Now on the other hand yes more serious violations i can understand like “drugs”,criminal sex conduct” and burglary are things i would want to know about because theses are people i could look out for to protect me and my family. do they realize that people have jobs to protect and things of that nature? Something that small such as a “moving vehicle with no insurance and “begging” is just not called for in my opinion, but i guess they want to make you look like a criminal no matter what it takes.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Feb 21, 2009 - 03:17 PM
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I think Busted is a great idea, If this paper existed when I was screwing-up my life. I probably would have been so humiliated I would have no choice but to change.
Can you subscribe to your paper online?
Please let me know. Thank you
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Feb 25, 2009 - 09:50 AM
Comments:
Hi Tena,
I don’t publish Busted, I just saw a copy for sale and decided to write about it. They do have a website, although it’s not finished yet: see http://www.lookwhosbusted.com.
—Luke
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Feb 25, 2009 - 09:59 AM
Comments:
I love this paper. Muskegon puts the nemas in their everyday paper and has been for years. I’ve already seen 10 people I know in this. Its funny.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Feb 26, 2009 - 03:40 PM
Comments:
I have been working for years to restore my reputation and i had finally found an empolyee who was willing to hire me. Because of your paper, I am going to loss my job. Thank you very much for having to relive my crime all over again. And for taking food off the table of my wife and children. You people are a bunch no good scum and may God deal with you accordly.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Mar 07, 2009 - 07:35 PM
Comments:
I just wanted you to know my best friend of ten years was fired today because of her photo in busted. Her boss was so embrassed and said he couldnt let customers see her. you are hurting others. Yeah put robbery murders rape and violent and sexual crimes and even dui but some really need to be left out and they hurt others.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Mar 26, 2009 - 03:51 PM
Comments:
This newspaper is a disgrace to those who are falsley accused and arrested and then later released with all charges dropped. The person is humiliated beyond measure and their family members are embarrased. I was appalled when I read that someone lost their employment behind the posting of their photo in the newspaper. Although, the magazine states in small print that it only provides arrests and booking information, not many individuals read the fine print, nor understand what this means. Individuals are still deemed criminals when in fact they may not be.
The publishing of this newspaper is mean spirited and suggests that benefiting from someone’s misfortune is moral and upright. The publishers of this magazine ought to be ashamed. In addition, those who purchase this newspaper lines the pocket of the publishers. If no one purchases the newspaper they would be forced to stop the publication.
I’ve never purchased the newspaper and I hope others join me in trying to put this publication out of business. For those who subscribe to this foolishness wait until you or someone you love is falsely accused and their picture is published in this trash newspaper I am sure you’ll have a different opinion of the paper.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Apr 01, 2009 - 01:50 PM
Comments:
All the info in the paper is already available online via access kent (inmate lookup link) for who’s been arrested. No name is needed for a lookup just put any date in for a booking date and an entire lists of arrests (charges cleared later or not) will pop up. The paper is completely correct in its disclaimer. It is public domain. Also the sex offenders by zip code is available by the mich dept of correction sex offender registry lookup.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Apr 23, 2009 - 09:06 PM
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I’m in this months edition and I haven’t been convicted and I’m pissed
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Apr 28, 2009 - 09:35 PM
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See, things like this would only work if the people on this “publication” were already tried in court. If not, it does make it a little difficult for the alleged person to gain back his/her reputation after a professional criminal defense lawyer proved the person innocent in court before a state-acknowledged judge or a thoroughly picked jury. Who are the ones the public will believe - a newspaper or a crew of professionals?
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Apr 29, 2009 - 02:14 PM
Comments:
Today i was informed that my picture is in this weeks busted paper the charge i m accused of is wrong plus i was found to be not guilty and the charge was dropped. I AM PISSED WHY DONT YOU WAIT UNTIL EACH PERSON HAS GONE TO COURT AND FOUND GUILTY OR PLEAD GUILTY BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN YOUR PAPER?EVERY ONE ARRESTED IS NOT GUILTY BUT YOUR PAPER MAKES THEM LOOK GUILTY.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 01, 2009 - 12:21 AM
Comments:
i HATE this magazine, cause it does put people in there who are innocent as well. what ever happen to innocent until proven guilty !!!! i think this is nobodys business, i have NEVER been arrested but i know people who have been arrested and then proven INNOCENT !!!! but THAT doesnt get printed much, the stat dont want to admit when THEY are wrong, but this paper will take a persons life and put it in shambles!!!
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Jun 25, 2009 - 05:33 AM
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Would like to know how we can receive your paper in Lansing MI lots of friends concern.
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Jul 16, 2009 - 04:28 AM
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So if people smoke crack get them busted but don’t get them published in a local newspaper, what about their civil rights? As that woman said, what are they gonna do about it? How will they handle the situation? The social stigma is a hard burden…
http://www.iobud.com
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Aug 03, 2009 - 03:23 PM
Comments:
my son turn me on to this paper and i am woundering if it could be mailed to my home if so how much .
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Aug 04, 2009 - 02:54 PM
