Over the last few years, technology has been rapidly advancing and completely reshaping the way that we interact with each other. There are countless social media platforms nowadays that we use to communicate with friends and family. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or another form of social media, it’s important to be cautious of what you’re posting because it will remain there for the world to see.
While social media is a great tool, especially during the quarantine, to keep in touch with friends and family, it can also do some serious damage to your domestic violence case. The things you post on social media can and will be used against you in court, especially when it comes to domestic violence.
Social Media’s Impact
After reading that you might be thinking, “I’ll just make my profile private and then only my friends can see what I'm posting.” Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Social media platforms actively cooperate with the police to reveal whatever “private” information they need access to. In fact, many situations don’t even require a warrant in order to view the information on your social media accounts.
The information on your social media accounts can be used against your case to:
- Present new evidence
- Confirm alibis
- Link missing connections together
- Find new suspects
- Find new witnesses
- Show your location at or before the time of the crime
- Reveal incriminating evidence
What Information Can be Used Against Me?
Whether you’re someone who posts picture updates for everything you do or you’re someone who takes to the keyboard to express your feelings, the things you say on social media can all be used against you.
Pictures
Let’s say you’re facing a domestic violence charge that was filed by your significant other. You claimed you weren’t around them at the time of the incident, but your Facebook post shows you two together at a bar just before the time of the incident. This photo can be used against you to show that you were, in fact, with your significant other.
Even if you delete your pictures, they can still be accessed by networks.
Posts
We expect that if you’ve been thinking of committing domestic violence, you likely wouldn’t go post about it on social media. However, we feel that we need to mention that you should never post incriminating information on your social media.
Check-Ins
Check-ins allow users to tag their location when they make a post. They also allow the police to see exactly where you were when the crime took place. When it comes to domestic violence cases, check-ins are often used to make sure the alleged abuser hasn’t violated their no-contact orders.
If you or a loved one has been charged with domestic violence and you’re looking for the next steps to take to protect your future, our team is here to help. Call us today (559) 206-2322 to learn more about how we can help.