How Social Media Can Hurt Your Criminal Case
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, you may want to pay close attention to this next sentence: Social media can hurt your case. If you think that what you post to social media is private, think again. No matter how secure your settings, if the police want to search through your social media account, all they need is a warrant to do so.
You Are Not Anonymous
Many people have a false sense of security sitting behind their keyboards. It’s important to understand that anything you post is ultimately public. Communications on social media may seem harmless, but they can hurt your case faster than you believe possible. Your privacy settings guarantee absolutely nothing.
Examples of Evidence
Anything that you post to social media could potentially used as evidence. Common examples of the most frequent information used includes:
- Descriptions of behavior
- Photos of drug use or paraphernalia
- Information that places people at the scene of a crime
- Information that shows premeditation
- Information that may implicate a person in illegal activity
Deleting Information
Some people think that if they hurry to eliminate information from their social media accounts, that it cannot be used against them. When a person takes the time to delete information, they may be found in contempt of court or even charged with destroying evidence.
Lessons Learned
If anyone should learn anything from social media in the criminal court, it is this: If you don’t want someone to know, don’t post it. That includes information, photographs and videos. If you are arrested and charged with a crime, do not delete information from your social media account or remove your page. A best practice is to get into the habit of keeping your private life private. No matter what you post on social media, it can be used against you in a court of law.
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in Orlando or the surrounding area, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney fighting for your rights in court. Do not assume that you can’t afford an attorney. Call our office and schedule a free case evaluation. It doesn’t cost anything to seek advice. Call today or browse our website for more information about our firm and the types of cases we handle.