Law Enforcement, Social Media And The Courts: San Diego Judge, Attorney Weigh In

When a reckless criminal boasts about a crime on Facebook, such as the "selfie" taken by a suspected Chula Vista burglar in February, social media becomes a tool to help law enforcement. But in other cases, such as if a juror tweets that a defendant looks guilty, it can cause a mistrial or become grounds for an appeal.

Social media is becoming a double-edged sword in the criminal justice system, and it's forcing investigators, attorneys and judges to come up with new safeguards to ensure good arrests and fair trials.

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