Navigating Facebook Restrictions in Ohio PFA Cases

Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders are designed to safeguard individuals from domestic violence by family members or partners. While these orders protect alleged victims, they also place significant restrictions on the accused person’s civil liberties. Government agencies and state police work together to enforce these orders, which typically involve removing the accused from a shared home and enforcing a strict no-contact rule.

If a PFA order has been filed against you, it’s vital to get help from an experienced criminal lawyer. A PFA can create serious challenges in your personal and professional life. The court process itself can also be emotionally draining.

It is crucial to understand and follow all the rules of the PFA order. Breaking any of the restrictions can lead to harsh penalties. Many people are surprised to learn that these restrictions extend to their online activities, including how they use social media platforms like Facebook.

At Logue Law Group, Steubenville criminal lawyers are put together key information about Facebook usage restrictions to help you navigate your court proceedings more smoothly.

Facebook No-Contact Rules in PFA Orders

If you regularly use Facebook, a PFA order will change your social media habits. You must follow specific rules when using the app. In modern life, using social media to stay in touch with people is normal. However, the no-contact provision of a PFA order also applies to your online interactions.

You are strictly forbidden from messaging the plaintiff, updating your timeline with posts about them, or tagging them. For precise details on the restrictions in your specific PFA order, you should consult with a Steubenville DUI attorney. They have the knowledge to help you understand the complex legal language of PFA orders, which can be very confusing for someone without a legal background. It’s also important to note that a common Facebook restriction in Ohio is that you cannot send friend requests or other invites to the plaintiff, as this would be considered a violation.

How Can You Defend a Facebook PFA Contempt Charge?

If you’re facing a contempt charge for a Facebook-related PFA violation, your Steubenville criminal lawyer can use two common defense strategies to protect your rights:

The Intent Defense

Your attorney will work to create doubt about whether you intentionally violated the order. On Facebook, messages can be sent to individuals or to groups of various sizes. It is possible for the person under the PFA order to unintentionally send a message, like a general invitation or post, that reaches the protected party. Steubenville criminal lawyers in Ohio often use this argument to protect clients from being unfairly penalized for an accident.

The Automated Functions Defense

Are you aware that many social media platforms, including Facebook, have automated features that operate without direct user action? Many users don’t realize that Facebook can automatically generate and send notifications or messages to a wide range of contacts. If the protected person accuses you of making contact in violation of the order, your DUI attorney can argue that the contact was a result of the app’s automated functions, not a deliberate action on your part.

Be sure to speak with Sean Logue, one of Ohio’s leading Steubenville DUI attorneys, known for his success in defending clients in PFA cases. For a free, 24/7 consultation and answers to your questions about this complex legal matter, call him at 844.PITT.DUI.