In an interesting study by the University of Portsmouth, it was found that digital media has a damaging impact on those who have committed white collar crimes and who are now trying to reintegrate into society. Part of the reason for that is that they are often negatively affected by the labels attached to them online.
These labels, referred to as personal digital criminal legacies (PDCLs), can disrupt their family lives and make it hard to find work. This is particularly interesting since white collar crimes have long been considered unnewsworthy. In the past, those who committed white collar crimes may not have had much adverse publicity.
To get a better look at how digital media affects people who were convicted of white collar crimes, the study looked at 17 participants between the ages of 30 and 65. Two were unable to find employment in the long-term. Five could only find work in the gig economy, and even then, it was only when few questions were asked about their backgrounds.
With the internet, anything that is published about you may remain tied to your name for the rest of your life. That’s why it’s so important to take steps to limit the impact of the media in your case. If you are being tried for a white collar crime, it’s important that you have a chance to defend yourself and to protect yourself against this long-term threat of a digital fingerprint that can’t be erased. Your attorney can talk to you more about the steps to take to limit the damage to your reputation during your case.
