Next week begins Domestic Violence Awareness month, and with domestic violence in the news thanks to Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, and athletes and celebrities, the timing certainly seems right. But one Oklahoma mother is taking domestic violence awareness personally, using social media to publicly shame her daughter's alleged abuser.

KOCO reports that when her 24-year-old daughter came home with bruises and scratches on her face and neck, the Shawnee mother took pictures and uploaded them to Facebook, naming her daughter's boyfriend as the person who inflicted the injuries. The  mother said she wanted to "make it real" to her daughter, and that public visibility of her injuries would make it less likely for her to hide from the truth and return to an abusive relationship.

Still, while one admires a mother's tenacity in protecting her daughter, the growing trend of public shaming via social media could have serious consequences.

Filing a police report and, if necessary, a Victims Protective Order (VPO) is the first step in stopping an abuser in a domestic violence relationship. If possible, the victim of abuse should immediately remove himself or herself from a dangerous situation and/or call police for assistance. Immediate response from law enforcement can be vital for one's safety. However, in some cases it is not possible to get away during the altercation. In this case, it is important to find a safe time to leave and contact police or the domestic violence hotline:

  • Oklahoma Safeline: 800-522-SAFE (7233)
  • Oklahoma City YWCA Domestic Violence Hotline: 405-917-9922

Making accusations on the internet may give a personal sense of justice or vindication, but it can also have dangerous ramifications. A violent individual may become so angry at the public shaming that he or she extends the violence, coming after the family member who posted the images or comments or escalating the violence against the original victim. Family and friends may become so enraged at the idea of someone hurting their loved ones that they take matters into their own hands, expanding the circle of violence and leading to criminal assault charges against self-appointed vigilantes.

If a third party posts images without knowing the full story, and wrongfully accuses someone of a crime, the person making false claims may be sued for libel, defined in 12 O.S. § 1441 as "false or malicious unprivileged publication by writing, printing, picture, or effigy or other fixed representation to the eye, which exposes any person to public hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy, or which tends to deprive him of public confidence, or to injure him in his occupation, or any malicious publication as aforesaid, designed to blacken or vilify the memory of one who is dead, and tending to scandalize his surviving relatives or friends."

Truth is a defense to libel, but as anyone involved in criminal prosecution or defense understands, truth can be a slippery thing. 

No one should be victimized by domestic violence. No man, woman, or child should suffer from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. If you or someone you love is in an abusive relationship, don't take it to Facebook--take it to law enforcement and organizations who can provide real help and support to victims of domestic violence.