Note: This post has been edited to clarify the issue of age as a determinant of a criminal act.

We are again in the uncomfortable position of naming a juvenile in print and online. Two newsroom policies are in play here. We generally do not name juveniles who are interacting with police or the courts and we don't name people who may be victims of sex crimes. The person in this case is a pregnant 12-year-old runaway. Consent is not an issue under state law, so the question is the age of the male who impregnated her.

At least one reader has objected to the printing of the girl's name. This is a case of balancing the potential harm. We have named the girl twice this week because the Durham police have sought the public's help in finding her. The girl is not accused of an offense, but police believe that she and her unborn child are in danger.

It's great that authorities have been aggressive in seeking to prevent further harm to this child. But this story should not end when the child is found. Given the evidence of a possible crime, is anyone looking for a possible perpetrator?

Linda Williams

Senior Editor

A conversation online regarding a recent story about a teenager charged with possession with intent to sell illegal drugs includes people making false statements and assumptions about the News & Observer's policies.

The paper has not printed the name and address of a "minor" in this case. Under North Carolina criminal law, 16-year-olds are automatically treated as adults. They are charged and defended in adult courts under the same rules that apply to older people in trouble with the law. We have over the years reported that this aspect of state law is a subject of debate among law enforcement people and advocates for children. North Carolina is thought to be among just three states that treat 16-year-olds as adults in criminal courts, regardless of the seriousness of the alleged offense.

In this case, the 16-year-old faces felony drug charges. In setting our policies, we use the law as a guideline. North Carolina law also allows children under 16 to be charged as adults under certain circumstances. We print those names. Generally, we do not name young people charged as juveniles. An exception might occur in the case of an egregious crime of high public interest. Such a step would not be taken lightly. We would not print the name without a careful consideration of the impact and a deliberation that engaged senior editors in the decision.

There are also false statements being made that the N&O withholds mug shots (police booking photos) of some people accused of crimes. A regular reader of the print edition, or a visitor to our Web site, will certainly find many photos of all kinds of people facing serious charges. We use mug shots unless police do not make them available. We don't write a lot of stories about people accused of minor offenses, thus we generally don't run photos of people accused of misdemeanors.

Linda Williams

Senior Editor