The Use of Facebook to Gather Evidence Takes Off
Nicole Young and Clay Carey of The Tennessean reported about the use of social media by Detective Dean Haney of the Metro Nashville Police Department to combat crime.The use of social media such as Facebook,Twitter , and My Space is growing at a tremendous rate. I even have a Facebook page.Using Facebook and other social media in criminal and personal injury cases have been used since it's inception, but now it's use is exploding.
Detective Haney searches the photos he retrieves from MySpace and Facebook to post on the wall at Nashville's North Precinct.It amazes me what people post on Facebook.Haney reports that he has seen AK-47 rifles , weapons, and stacks of cash.In under age consumption of alcohol cases , The Franklin Police Department and the Brentwood Police Department routinely search social media sites to corroborate the charges.Police in Chattanooga,Tn discovered an on line forum of people planning illegal drag races.
The use of social media is also a concern in personal injury cases and all types of civil litigation.At the 2010 Mid-Winter Convention of The Tennessee Association of Justice , Judge Steve Stafford and Judge Joe Riley will be leading a discussion on the pros and cons of social media.The discussion will include how social media effects and harms your client.
Here's how I use social media and I also include Goggle in as well:
1.Use a Goggle,Facebook ,My Space for a search on all witnesses.
2.Set up a Goggle Alert for the witnesses names.You might be surprised what pops up.
My advice for clients on social media.
1. Once you have been charged with a crime ,been sued ,or been in serious accident , take it down.Don't wreck your case.
