When you are charged with a crime, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain of what to do first. Working with an attorney specializing in criminal law helps you determine your next steps, including what you should do about your social media channels. Social media can seriously influence your case, so be aware of the consequences before posting or reviewing current content.

Status Updates

Status updates containing inflammatory, accusatory, or malicious language to or about another person or group of individuals provide evidence against you in a court of law. Boasting about criminal activities is another major faux pas that will not help your case. You may think what you write is relatively private; however, it can show up in retweets, screenshots, and similar situations. Status updates concerning where you are and what you’re doing can also be used to create a case against you.

Images & Videos

Photos and videos you post yourself or those you are tagged in can be used to determine probable cause in a criminal law case. They may provide evidence of incriminating activities or what you were doing and where you were before, during, and after the crime in question. Photos and videos from Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are especially detrimental because they include timestamps. Law enforcement can quickly obtain photos and videos as evidence, whether your accounts are private or not. These shots also make you, potential witnesses, and other suspects easier to identify.

Check-Ins

As with status updates, checking into restaurants, clubs, bars, theaters, community centers, and any other location provides a detailed history of your activities for the prosecution to utilize. Perhaps you checked in at what turned out to be the scene of the crime, or maybe you told followers you were at a specific bar before an altercation that resulted in thousands of dollars’ worth of damages. The more check-ins you post in relation to a criminal case, the more evidence you provide to opposing counsel.

Refrain from posting on social media before or during your criminal law case, and let friends and family know not to tag you in posts. Contact Hackworth, Ferguson & Thompson in Piedmont, MO, for the legal counsel you need. The attorneys at this law firm have a 45-year history specializing in criminal law, personal injury and workers’ compensation claims, and family and bankruptcy law. Call (573) 223-4247 today to schedule a consultation, or visit the attorneys online for more information on their practice. Get additional tips on Facebook.