Text messages - can you print them?

[Zac495]

This goes with the thread about my son and the drugs and the 30 year old guy - many of you have followed that.

PJ suggested I start a new thread to simply ask - is there any way to print text messages and text video clips (of porn)?

we have tried everything - the cops sent a warrant to AT&T. They received back time/number - but no copies of the actual texts.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[DaveNV]

Can you Forward or Copy the messages to a regular PC and then print them out?

Dave

 

[thinze3]

Can you Forward or Copy the messages to a regular PC and then print them out?

Dave

YES. You can forward them to an email address.

 

[Zac495]

Sure - but emails can be edited, so that wouldn't be good for court, would it?
But I just called the officer in charge of my case and left him a message suggesting it. THANKS

 

[Art4th]

If you don't have the text messages in the phone anymore I think you're out of luck. The cellular companies can get you the date and time info but I'm pretty sure they can't get you the content.

 

[Zac495]

If you don't have the text messages in the phone anymore I think you're out of luck. The cellular companies can get you the date and time info but I'm pretty sure they can't get you the content.

I have them in the phone - I just wish they could be printed - that's what the officer would prefer because in a court - it'll be hard for the jury to look at 100 text messages from this predator. The phone is safe - in my dresser - with all the messages.

 

[heckp]

Maybe you can call the maker of the phone and ask for their tech support.

 

[ctreelmom]

I asked my 16 year-old, the resident expert on all matters electronic, what she would do if she wanted to print out text messages and she said she'd just email them to herself. Then it occurred to me that if you take a screen shot of the email and save it as a PDF, it can't be edited (of course the editing could have been done prior to taking the screen shot).

Another thought--could you take a photo of the pertinent texts right on the phone screen with a digital camera? You could print them out yourself at home or have a photo lab do it, but you'd need to be careful if the content is inappropriate--maybe the police could help with that part?

Edited to Add: Sorry, Ellen, read this thread before your update below and I see the police already snapped some photos of the phone.

 

[pjrose]

If you forward to a) police and b) DA and c) defense attorney then surely all three won't edit them, or won't edit them the same way.

Also the digital camera photos of the phone screen can be put on a PC and then included in a PowerPoint to be easily seen in court.

OMG - I just realized something - check the settings on your phone NOW to ensure there's no time limit on how long texts are kept on the phone itself. In the case of DD's problem with a boy sending obscene texts, I saw the texts and then a few days later they had disappeared POOF. I didn't figure out till months later that the phone settings auto-deleted texts after 30 days.

Also, if you can, copy to SIMM card and then, if you can, set that SIMM card to be read-only, no deletion. If you can get a multi-media card (miniSD or whatever size fits) in that phone, do so and copy it all again. If not, put that SIMM card in a phone that will take a miniSD card and copy to that card. The miniSD will probably have a little tab that can then be flipped to lock it so there can't be any erasures.

 

[Zac495]

If you forward to a) police and b) DA and c) defense attorney then surely all three won't edit them, or won't edit them the same way.

Also the digital camera photos of the phone screen can be put on a PC and then included in a PowerPoint to be easily seen in court.

OMG - I just realized something - check the settings on your phone NOW to ensure there's no time limit on how long texts are kept on the phone itself. In the case of DD's problem with a boy sending obscene texts, I saw the texts and then a few days later they had disappeared POOF. I didn't figure out till months later that the phone settings auto-deleted texts after 30 days.

Also, if you can, copy to SIMM card and then, if you can, set that SIMM card to be read-only, no deletion. If you can get a multi-media card (miniSD or whatever size fits) in that phone, do so and copy it all again. If not, put that SIMM card in a phone that will take a miniSD card and copy to that card. The miniSD will probably have a little tab that can then be flipped to lock it so there can't be any erasures.

I think we're okay with them on the phone - they are already 3 months old! Good thought about forwarding them to the police or DA - though when I think about the law and order shows we see - I think - defense says DA edited......... You know?? But I DID call the police officer and mention this option.

The police officer who is running our show (in charge of our case) is probably 25. Our township is small and there aren't a lot of cops to help - only one detective, who is too busy with other things (He TOLD ME THIS - he said he was TOO BUSY to take our case - even though there was child porn and drugs!)

He has said - law isn't like on TV - and I'm learning that.

 

[pjrose]

- only one detective, who is too busy with other things (He TOLD ME THIS - he said he was TOO BUSY to take our case - even though there was child porn and drugs!)

I believe the PA State Attorney General has a task force for child porn....you might want to check the state web site. Perhaps a nudge from above might improve the handling of this case.

And regarding the 3 month old messages, check anyway - maybe it's set to auto-delete texts after 99 or 100 or 120 days.....go to tools or settings or call the phone mfr's tech support to find out how to set auto-delete to off or never. I LOST my evidence because of that problem.

 

[teachingmyown]

This may not be helpful at all, but on Dr Phil last week he had -- on stage-- several reams of paper that he said contained the print outs of a portion of the 125K texts a particular 17yo had sent/received over a 3 month period (the issue was the volume, not the content) so I think the answer to your question would be "yes."

A bit more information that might be helpful is that a friend's attorney told her that the only way to get a print out of text messages was with a court order. Again, that makes it sound at least like the answer is "yes."

I wonder if it varies from carrier to carrier or from state to state?

 

[BevL]

Here in Canada texts can be intercepted the same way that calls are using warrant served on the service provider. I know this because of the work that I do now.

I'm sorry, but I don't know how the technology that must be involved works. But it can be done.

 

[Zac495]

This may not be helpful at all, but on Dr Phil last week he had -- on stage-- several reams of paper that he said contained the print outs of a portion of the 125K texts a particular 17yo had sent/received over a 3 month period (the issue was the volume, not the content) so I think the answer to your question would be "yes."

A bit more information that might be helpful is that a friend's attorney told her that the only way to get a print out of text messages was with a court order. Again, that makes it sound at least like the answer is "yes."

I wonder if it varies from carrier to carrier or from state to state?

INTERESTING!!!! I know the officer in charge is in today - I will call him with all of this information. again, because this 25 year old cop is doing it almost alone, it's not easy. He's a local police officer (small township) and the detective in our township gives him advice, but didn't take the case (he says he has a rape case and a bunch of stolen cars , so he has no time). FRUSTRATING.

 

[Beverley]

Ellen,

This may be a long shot, but perhaps you could contact the Dr. Phil show via their website and ask for help from one of the workers as you how they copied the text file. They may have had an easier way than emailing each one individually and then printing.

Beverley

 

[pjrose]

Beverley's idea is super!

When my AT&T people told me that with a court order they could get the content I was skeptical, and really pressed them on needing CONTENT, not just date/time and phone number - they said yes, absolutely, they could do that. I'm still somewhat skeptical.....can't imagine all that would be saved somewhere.....but check AT&T yourself; call their 800#, say it's a legal issue and you need to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about such things, use the words "child porn", and "harrassment", ask for tech support, etc.

If I were home I'd check my notes on who I talked to what what she said, but I'm in Cancun.

 

[Zac495]

Beverley's idea is super!

When my AT&T people told me that with a court order they could get the content I was skeptical, and really pressed them on needing CONTENT, not just date/time and phone number - they said yes, absolutely, they could do that. I'm still somewhat skeptical.....can't imagine all that would be saved somewhere.....but check AT&T yourself; call their 800#, say it's a legal issue and you need to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about such things, use the words "child porn", and "harrassment", ask for tech support, etc.

If I were home I'd check my notes on who I talked to what what she said, but I'm in Cancun.

Beverly - great idea. I'm telling you - we called AT&T and they insist it can't be done. The cops sent a warrant and got nothing. Of course the officer never called me today - well, maybe he's working night shift... THANKS - I won't give up.