The Toxic Practice of Doxxing

Doxxing is the practice of maliciously publicizing private information about another on the internet.  It comes from the phrase "Dropping Documents" and has recently increased in frequency.

EXAMPLES OF DOXXING

Doxxing can take many forms, but often materializes as the publication of someone's home address, employer, or telephone number so that the target can be harassed en masse.   Once this information is initially publicized, within minutes it can be widely shared, liked and retweeted throughout the internet.  That cat is out of the bag, and you can find yourself receiving death threats, calls to your employer and the subject of vicious memes.  It is often done by organized groups with experience in getting the information "off the ground" and quickly into the social media of hundreds, if not thousands, of others.  A mob mentality can take over, making it extremely difficult to stop the doxxing attack.

LEGALITY OF DOXXING

Doxxing may constitute state-level felony cyber harassment or a federal crime for which the FBI has jurisdiction.  You should report the matter to your local law enforcement immediately, and possibly to the FBI as well.  Do not take the matter into your own hands by responding to the Doxxer, or to others associated with the Doxxer.

Once law enforcement has been notified, contact an attorney who is well-versed in this area in order to protect your rights civilly, as well as to serve as a liaison between you and law enforcement.  Ideally, your attorney will have experience handling issues related to criminal law and the internet.

HOW TO PREVENT DOXXING

There is no one full-proof way to avoid being a victim of doxxing, but you can go a long way to avoid being a victim by following three simple steps:

1.   Ensure all of your electronic usernames and passwords are kept in a secure database and themselves are sophisticated enough to be difficult for someone to guess.  For instance, avoid passwords that include your name, address, birthday and make of your automobile.

2.  Password protect your phone or computer and do not leave them accessible to any other people.

3.  Avoid posting controversial opinions about a subject of intense public concern if you are not prepared to accept a social media backlash that may include doxxing attempts against you.

If you have been the victim of doxxing or cyber harassment, feel free to call me at (856) 218-7070 and I'm happy to chat with you about the legal options available to protect you.

Winning Your Municipal Court Case

There are several factors that can greatly influence your chances of being successful in Municipal Court.

GET ALL YOUR RECORDS

First, make sure you have all of the official records that pertain to your matter.  This is called your discovery.  In addition to the testimony of police officers, witnesses, or the complainant, the discovery will be what the Prosecutor will use to try to convince the Court of your guilt.  The sooner you request and receive your discovery from the Prosecutor or the Police Department, the better prepared you will be when it is time to appear in Court.

CONFIRM YOU COURT DATE

Sounds simply, right?  You might be surprised at how many defendants fail to appear for the Court date, and have warrants for their arrest issued as a result.  Don't be that person.  If the address on your driver's license isn't your current address, make sure you notify the Court of your correct address so that you receive the Court notices they are sending out.  Court dates are often changed, and you need to know this.

KNOW THE LAW OF YOUR CASE

Make sure you've researched the law surrounding the facts of your case, so you are prepared to present to the Court why it is that you should be acquitted.  The Prosecutor will be well-versed in this, so you need to be ready.  If your case presents a novel legal issue, this will be an opportunity for you to argue as to why certain other cases that were previously decided tend to help you in your case, even though your issue is different.  Essentially you could be arguing for an extension of a law to include the facts relevant to your case.

BE COURTEOUS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED

The Golden Rule applies here.  Our court system is adversarial in nature, but that does not mean that you should treat people discourteously.  Understand that everyone has a part to play, from the Judge to the Prosecutor to the Court Staff to the Police Officer to the other party.  Nobody especially wants to be there and everyone could be spending their time more productively.  Treating the people you come into contact with courteously and respectfully, even when you disagree on very important matters, will go a long way to help achieve the best result possible.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, HIRE AN ATTORNEY

Only an attorney-at-law who is well versed in the court system and the law can provide you with the best possible chance of obtaining a good outcome.  There are myriad rules of evidence, rules of procedure, caselaw and statutes which govern every case.  It is almost impossible for an unrepresented person to navigate these waters as well as an attorney (well, most attorneys!).  If you can afford to hire an attorney, do so.  If you truly cannot afford to hire an attorney, the Court may be able to appoint a Public Defender to represent you at little to no cost.  And yes, a Public Defender is often a very good attorney -- although they are usually forced to handle dozens and dozens of cases each court session, and may not be able to give you the same devoted attention as a private attorney.

We are here to help.  Feel free to call Chris for a free consultation, (856) 218-7070.

It's Time to Stand Up, America

So far, 2020 has not been such a great year.  Agreed?

We began with such high hopes, as we almost always do.  Our last New Year's Eve celebration didn't look any different than the ones before.  There was talk of some virus emanating from Wuhan, China, but it really was just talk....

Fast forward to today.  Most of America was closed for a few months.  We are wearing masks and social distancing in public.  Thousands and thousands of Americans have stood up in a generation-defining moment akin to the civil rights era in the 60's to protest racial injustice and inequality.  The United States Military has been protecting the White House and beating back protestors.
The social tumult and financial devastation has been head-spinning.  Next to enter the ring:  the political uncertainty of a Presidential general election.

It's enough to make you want to be put in hyper sleep until 2021.

But now is the time to do the opposite.  Now is the time to engage like you've never engaged before.  Now is the time to stand up.

Standing up doesn't mean arguing, or fighting, or even being disagreeable.  Sometimes it may mean any of those three things, but mostly it's about listening and understanding.  It's about giving your fellow American a break, and trying to understand what it's like to walk in their shoes.  It's about treating others the way you want to be treated, and seeking justice for your fellow American when that doesn't happen.

If you take 20 random people off the street, and ask them their opinion about various hot-topic items of the day, you're likely to get many different opinions.  That's just the nature of being human.
But if you ask them if they love their children, they'll all say yes.  If you ask them if they want to be safe, they'll all say yes. If you ask them if they enjoy laughing and smiling, they'll all say yes.
We all have a lot more in common than we don't.  Astronauts who have traveled into space often remark how the Earth is one big blue-green ball that doesn't differentiate between countries, cultures, religions or ethnicities.  Those differences are only what we choose to make of them.  We are all human, with the same basic wants and needs.

In a deeply divided nation, it is time for all of us to stand up and defend the basic values that we hold dear:  the right to be free from oppression and the right to hold those to account that oppress us.
We will disagree on things.  We will not always make the right decisions.  We will not always hit our mark.

But the arc of history bends toward justice, and we must continually and passionately seek this in our actions every day.

So stand up.  Make your voice heard.  But most importantly, listen to what others are saying.  Find ways to bridge ideological gaps.

Find ways to humanize those you disagree with, and they will find ways to humanize you too.

We must work together to heal the divides in this Country.  Our Founders did not envision a country that looked a certain way, sounded a certain way, worshipped a certain way, or acted a certain way. They simply envisioned a land that was free and a people that were brave.

Stand up.  Be Brave.  So we can remain free.