Do crime victims in California have a right to privacy involving the publishing of their names in the media??

Question

I have a friend who was stabbed and is in the hospital under a false name for his own protection. Has a newspaper violated his right to privacy by publishing his name? If they have, what would be the appropriate actions on our part or theirs?

Answer 1

There really isn't any law that prevents a newspaper from running the names of crime victims. A lot of newspapers and media outlets have a tradition of withholding the names of rape and sex abuse victims, and the names of minors who are victims (or perps) are usually withheld, but not always, and it's up to the media outlet and not the law.

That said, since the name was changed in the hospital, how did the newspaper get it? If somehow the victim was harmed further because of his name being released, I suppose you could sue them for releasing the info, but that would be kind of a stretch.

Answer 2

Crime victims don't have a legal right to privacy (in terms of having their name put out there. Media concerns (newspapers, broadcasters, etc.) are legally free to disclose the name of crime victims. Most media companies exercise this right responsibly by not printing/releases names of minors or sexual assault victims. There's also nothing preventing media outlets from printing the names of juvenile offenders, but the media tends to keep those names hidden as well, unless the crime is high-profile.

Answer 3

Normally, privacy is only protected for minors and in sexual crimes.