In South Carolina, police officers often make arrests when they believe they have probable cause that a domestic violence offense has occurred. This means that if an alleged victim provides detailed statements about threats, injuries, or specific incidents, officers may feel compelled to make an arrest at the scene.
ChatGPT and similar programs can generate highly specific scenarios that sound credible. For example, during or after an argument, one partner may open a chatbot and ask it to provide examples of statements that would result in an arrest. The person may then repeat those allegations to law enforcement. This can include detailed guidance on what is needed to enhance a simple allegation into enough for a DV 2nd Degree charge in South Carolina.
Because these statements are detailed and appear consistent, police may rely on them when deciding to arrest someone. Unfortunately, this can result in a situation where a person is placed in handcuffs, taken to jail, and forced to fight criminal charges based on allegations that were fabricated with the help of artificial intelligence.
False allegations of domestic violence are not new, but the use of AI makes them easier to create and more persuasive. A single statement that includes details about being struck, pushed, threatened, or placed in fear can be enough to start the criminal justice process. From there, the accused may face bond conditions, no-contact orders, and the stress of defending themselves in court.
We have heard of real-life examples of people using ChatGPT either prior to calling police, or prior to making statements to police, in order to maximize the likelihood of their partner's arrest. This is an alarming trend, and is only going to be exasperated by the increase in AI technologies. This phenomenon, combined with technology that can easily generate false images purporting to show bruising or other injuries is going to result in many people being arrested based on false domestic violence accusations.
James Snell is the author of the book on South Carolina Criminal Defense Violence Defense, Challenging CDV, and has over 20 years experience defending felony and misdemeanor charges. If you are facing domestic violence charges in South Carolina, it is important to take the situation seriously. These cases can have life-changing consequences, including possible jail time, fines, and the creation of a permanent criminal record.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for domestic violence in Lexington, Columbia, or anywhere in South Carolina, call (803) 359-3301 today. Same-day appointments are typically available. All cases are unique, and prior results obtained by the attorney in one matter do not indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients in other matters.