The majority of people are aware of what a restraining order is, but even those who have had one given to them may be unaware of its scope. Can a person be found guilty of breaching a restraining order because of their conduct on social media, for example? Yes, to put it succinctly. Continue reading to learn more, or call Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 to schedule a free legal consultation.

Facebook and restraining orders

The majority of individuals in today's globe utilize some form of social media. Because of this, the courts have had to establish guidelines for what constitutes "contact" in the context of restraining orders. Interactions on social media can be violate restraining orders, according to courts throughout the nation. Sending private messages, tagging individuals in postings, and other online activities are examples.

The case of the Facebook "pokes"

Years ago, you could “poke” someone on Facebook, which is no longer possible. The court determined that this is a form of communication that is subject to restraining orders. Poking is a kind of communication, according to the judge, because it needs the poker to pick a certain person, choose to reach out to them, and push the appropriate buttons.

However, if a group invitation was sent to hundreds of individuals on a person's buddy list, and one of those people had a restraining order against them, it might not be considered a violation because the person was not explicitly chosen.

Tagging someone on Facebook: a case study

What if a person tags someone in a picture? Because it involves contact, the court ruled that this was also a breach of the restraining order. The individual who tagged the claimed victim in this case labeled them "dumb" and made other disparaging remarks about them. The court made it plain that restraining orders prohibit people from contacting the protected person “by electronic or any other means,” including social media.

If you have been accused of violating a restraining order, speak with a criminal defense attorney

If you've been accused of violating a restraining order, you don't have to accept it and go on. You have the ability to combat it. All you need is a good criminal defense lawyer on your side. Law Office of Michael L. Fell is where you'll find that individual.

Attorney Fell has decades of expertise and is ready to defend you and help you get the best possible result in your case. Whether it's fighting the charges, negotiating the best possible plea agreement, or anything else, you can trust him to look out for your best interests. For a consultation, call (949) 585-9055 right now.