If you have been charged with a crime, the actions you take between being charged and your case being heard could be monitored by those building a case against you in court. A lot more facts and insinuations than you realize can actually be drawn out of your online accounts and might be viable in a mounting case against you. Here are five social media mistakes you should try to avoid if you have recently been charged with a crime.
1. BRAGGING ABOUT A CRIME OR CHARGES
Even if you know you are innocent of the crime charged against you, you still might want to share details on your arrest or charges with friends on online. While it might be fun to brag about events surrounding your criminal case, this can be a huge mistake. If you don’t seem remorseful for an incident that occurred or you might allude to your involvement, your charges will be harder to throw out, even if your account online doesn’t really tell the whole or true story.
2. TALKING ABOUT YOUR PENDING CASE
While you might be stressed out from all of the details surrounding your pending case, it isn’t a good idea to discuss events that have stemmed from this online. You might just be venting, but if you say anything in a negative light about judges, your bad luck, the courts, or the process, this could come off looking as if you don’t care about your case or have respect for the system. While the criminal court system can seem time a time-consuming process, trusting in your criminal attorney and the court’s decisions are your best options, even if you are frustrated.
3. PUBLIC PHOTOS, LOCATIONS, AND TIMELINES
Your social media account might come into question if you are defending where you were, who you were with, and at what time surrounding your criminal case. If your story doesn’t exactly match up with photos, locations, and timelines online, this can cause your story to seem untrue. Even if these facts don’t exactly corroborate with a crime, if you aren’t being completely honest or your story has changed or doesn’t match up with other accounts, you might be questioned further on the validity of previous statements.
4. BAD MOUTHING COPS OR THE SYSTEM
If you feel as though your charges were handled poorly or your case should be thrown out, this is something that you should discuss with your criminal attorney, not something that you should vent about online. Griping online might lessen your chances of receiving any sympathy from cops involved in your case, and judges and courts might not think you are showing any grief or understanding around your case. It is better to let your attorney fight your case in court, not for you to do this online.
5. CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN LESS-THAN-PERFECT BEHAVIOR
If you have just been committed of a crime, but your online account shows that you are out partying, this can send mixed messages. If you have been charged with a crime involving a controlled substance, alcohol, or possibly a DUI, photos or comments about drugs or photos of you at a bar can negate your claims to something being a one-time incident or that you are working to stay in-line. Similarity, if you have been charged with assault, your social media accounts shouldn’t tout anything violent. These online examples can be brought into question regarding how seriously you are taking charges brought against you.
While it might not seem fair that such a small part of who you are can be judged so harshly, it is a good idea to take a hard look at your social media accounts and discuss any concerns you might have with your attorney. The best thing you can do is to lock all of your social media accounts to private, and to stay offline for the time being. If you are looking for a criminal attorney in the St Paul area, contact us to safeguard your case and ensure you get the best outcome from your charges.