Should songs that confess to crimes be used as admissible evidence in court?
Songs are a great and stylistic way to express one’s self; This art form has been used for thousands of years to pass down information and to entertain. However, sometimes songs may hint at or blatantly state events that may raise some suspicion. A skit by Comedy Central sort of pokes fun at the notion in their video ‘Key & Peele – Rap Album Confessions’ However, it poses an important question: Should songs and raps be used as evidence in a court of law?
Firstly, let’s consider amendment one of the United States Constitution, which among other things provides freedom of speech. With this amendment in place our speech and songs cannot really be censored, we are free to express our thoughts and feelings. The first amendment was brought into question in 2014 by New Jersey’s Supreme Court when they ruled on the issues of songs depicting violence being used as evidence in court. The case involved an African American male by the name of Vonte Skinner. Apparently, some violent lyrics were discovered by investigators in Skinner’s car after he was convicted of shooting a man in 2005. The lyrics were admitted into the cases as evidence because it was felt they had some relevance.
Ultimately, Skinner was charged with double murder after his lyrics were interpreted as a confession, however, the lyrics were not used in court and the charges were acquitted, though he was convicted of other charges.
It is important to note that just because someone writes a song depicting violence, it does not necessarily mean that they committed an act of violence. Typically, in criminal cases where lyrics or songs are brought into question, the song will be used in conjunction with other evidence. Songs can be used as a way to analyze a person’s mental state (if the lyrics give some insight into the person’s psyche).