Video – Attorney Regina Tsombanakis Explains How Social Media Can Affect The Criminal Justice Process From Arrest To Conviction

Ray Hrdlicka – Host – Attorneys.Media

“Well, you know, you touched upon the States’ Attorney saying, ‘wait a minute, I’ve got bigger things to…bigger fish to go after here than do this’. But if somebody does get arrested, you know, the whole concept… concept…the whole legal tenet of innocent until proven guilty, on which our system is based. However, in today’s social media world, there’s a stigma with that. And so how do you address that issue? When a client walks in the door, they’ve never been arrested before. Now, they’ve got an issue. how would you help them along those lines?”

Regina Tsombanakis– Criminal Defense Attorney – Broward County, FL

“Well, I mean, social media has exploded. People cannot get enough true crime. I mean, it’s just people love it. How many shows… How many entire channels are dedicated to this…like 20/20 to Life? People love it. And they love, love, love, love. When somebody does, like those Nancy Grace deep dives, that’s why she was so popular. They love somebody asking those questions. They’ve loved that.

And a lot of the time, people like that make you look guilty. Because that’s what makes it interesting. It’s not interesting if we all agree. And that can really work against you, because it’s really kind of their opinion, but they repeat it so often. People hear it so often, they begin to believe that. And then you kind of better educate the jury that comes in from that populace that, hey, I know what you’ve heard, but you know, can you separate fact from opinion…from fiction?

It just does become harder. And I tell them, you always, my clients, always act as if someone’s watching you. On your social media, all the time. Do not post anything you would ever regret. Do not.”

Ray Hrdlicka – Host – Attorneys.Media

“Well, because it stays out there forever, of course.”

Regina Tsombanakis– Criminal Defense Attorney – Broward County, FL

“Forever. A simple comment about a political party. Oh, but four years later, we have a different political party. Now. They don’t like you. I mean, you just don’t know, right? People post things all the time there, and it is… And for jobs too, people are finding out that they’re scrubbing their social media and finding out what they posted. So, you have to always assume people are going to be watching.”