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Accused of a crime? Beware of social media

On Behalf of | Apr 21, 2023 | Theft & Property Crimes

Social media platforms now connect billions of people around the world. They are often used to network professionally, to keep loved ones in touch and to place people in contact with others who share their interests. 

These platforms are also regularly used by law enforcement officers and prosecutors as sources of evidence when they are building cases against people who are under investigation and those who have been charged with various crimes.

What should you do?

You need to make informed decisions about what will best serve your interests. You can either decide to stay off of social media until your case has been fully resolved or you can make the (riskier) decision to remain on social media while taking great care not to post anything that could compromise your criminal defense strategy. 

Essentially, anything that you post – pictures, text, videos, reactions to others’ content, etc. – can potentially be used as evidence to undermine the strength of your defense. Even if you post something that is seemingly innocent to you, if it can be misinterpreted or potentially manipulated even slightly in favor of the prosecution, you’ll want to refrain from hitting “post” on that content. For example, if you’re accused of theft or embezzlement, photos of you enjoying vacations, fine dinners, drinks out with friends and shopping can all be used to point to your “lavish” lifestyle, even if you were putting things on credit.

If you have questions about how to navigate social media and other real-world situations until your case is resolved, do not hesitate to seek legal guidance