Title: How Your Use Of Social Media Can Be Restricted If You’re On Probation
1HOW YOUR USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Can Be Restricted If
Youre On Probation
2Social media has become an integral part of life,
so no wonder that even the criminal justice
system has to adjust and enact new laws and rules
governing how social media can and cannot be used
by adults and juveniles serving probation and
those investigated for a crime. As you may know,
it has been over a year since the Supreme Court
ruled that social media platforms can be
considered the new public square, which means
expressing your opinion in social media posts is
protected by the First Amendment, which
guarantees your free speech. However, just
recently, a California state appeals court ruled
that there are certain limitations as to the
extent social media can be used by an adult or
juvenile or ex-convict who is on probation.
3 Los Angeles internet crime attorney at Okabe
Haushalter explains that there are certain
limitations imposed on adult and juvenile use of
social media while on probation. Imposing
limitations on a convicts use of social media
can be lawful as long as these limitations are
imposed for rehabilitation purposes and/or to
protect the victim of a crime committed by the
convict. Traditionally, the criminal justice
system has imposed limitations on adults and
juveniles serving probation. In particular, those
limitations were imposed on their conduct and
communications. Until recently, courts did not
recognize social media as a means of
communication. But now that social media has
become the preferred choice of communication for
the vast majority of teenagers and young adults,
its no surprise that courts have begun imposing
limitations on adults and juveniles serving
probation and publicizing their activities on
Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
How Your Use Of Social Media Can Be Restricted
4- When an adult or juvenile serving probation posts
something about his or her criminal case, or
worse, something about the victim of the crime,
the court will issue a warning to the felon
and/or order him/her to take down the social
media posts that violate the terms of conditional
release. - Internet crime attorney in Los Angeles explains
that doing so is necessary to protect the
convict, too, as certain social media posts can
be used against the person serving probation to
prove that the adult or juvenile on probation has
no remorse about his or her actions. - Some of you might argue that placing any
limitations on your use of social media is a
violation of your free-speech rights, but this
isnt what Californias Supreme Court thinks.
Arent Those Limitations A Violation Of My
Freedom Of Speech Rights?
5 Your Probation Diminishes Your Freedom Of
Speech Rights
- While it is true that you have the right to
express your opinion and speak freely under the
First Amendment, regardless of whether you are on
probation or not, your freedom of speech rights
is diminished by the terms and conditions of your
probation. After all, these conditions exist to
rehabilitate you and protect the victim of the
crime. - Thus, California courts recognize that social
media presence is no joke. If you have been
charged with a crime, it is best to refrain from
posting anything about your offense on social
media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or
Twitter for the duration of your probation. - Failure to comply with the courts order may make
it more difficult to rehabilitate you or complete
your probation successfully. If you still think
that placing any limitations on your use of
social media is a violation of your freedom of
speech rights, speak to Los Angeles internet
crime attorney at Okabe Haushalter.
6Contact - Okabe Haushalter
Address Two California Plaza 350 S Grand Ave,
2220 Los Angeles, CA 90071 Phone 310-430-7799 htt
ps//www.southbaylawyer.com/contact_us.aspx