You’ve been arrested and charged with criminal wrongdoing. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding that led to your circumstances or perhaps you made a mistake. Either way, your future is now at stake and the strength of your criminal defense strategy could mean the difference between a life unburdened by a criminal record and one weighed down by this legal consequence.
Because the stakes of your situation are so high, it’s vitally important that you avoid engaging in any conduct that could compromise the strength of your criminal defense. It may or may not surprise you to learn that posting on social media before your case is resolved could impact the outcome of your situation.
Why social media is such a legal minefield
Unlike phone records, search engine history and email communication, law enforcement officers, investigators and prosecutors don’t generally need a judge to sign off on a search warrant to scroll someone’s social media activity. This is because social media platforms, unlike phones and email accounts, are public.
As a result of this reality, it’s all but certain that those on “the other side” of your case are going to be watching your social media accounts closely for any activity that they can use to minimize the effectiveness of your criminal defense strategy. Therefore, you’ll need to do all you can to minimize any activity that could get you in trouble.
Even if your privacy settings are “maxed” and even if you only post heartwarming puppy videos, you never know what a prosecutor might twist to their advantage. As a result, it’s better to avoid social media entirely until your case is resolved.