Source: http://calinnovates.org/confronting-bullies-on-the-digital-schoolyard/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 21:57:42
Document Index: 291402858

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 422', '§ 784', '§ 135', '§ 750', '§ 1172', '§ 33']

Confronting Bullies On The Digital Schoolyard - Calinnovates
Posted on October 11, 2011 July 28, 2016 by Mike Montgomery
Policymakers and law enforcement officials at the state and federal levels have taken steps in recent years to address the safety of young people on the Internet. But one area of online safety in which there is a need for greater leadership is cyberbullying. There has been growing public awareness of the dangers of cyberbullying—the use of digital media by young people to harass, bully, or humiliate their peers—but there is no uniformity in how state or federal laws address the problem. Codifying a clear definition of cyberbullying in statute and distinguishing it from other forms of online harassment would go a long way toward helping legislators, law enforcement, schools, parents, and other community members create strategies for responding to such incidents. The response to cyberbullying in Texas illustrates the difficulty of mobilizing state officials to take action. At the federal level, most efforts to promote youth safety online have focused on stopping sexual predators, not bullies.
State State Law Brief Summary
California CA Penal Code § 422 Establishes that threats made toward an individual or his or her familythrough the use of an electronic communication are to be considered aslegitimate threats, regardless of whether the threat will be carried out. Setsforth misdemeanor penalties for carrying out specific cyberharassment
Florida FL Stat. § 784.048 Defines cyberstalking to include a pattern of behavior targeting a specificperson through electronic mail or communication. Additional penaltiesexist for cyberstalking of a person under the age of 16.
Illinois IL Comp. Stat. 720 § 135 1-2 Specifically defines actions constituting harassment through electronicmeans of communications, including the harassment of victims under theage of 13 by defendants who are at least 16 years of age.
Michigan MI Comp. Laws § 750.411s Prohibits the posting of threatening or harassing messages through theInternet and computer systems, programs, and networks or by otherelectronic means.
Oklahoma OK Stat. 21 § 1172 Includes conspiracy or concerted action with others among prohibitedmethods of perpetrating cyberharassment.
Texas TX Penal Code § 33.07 Creates felony and misdemeanor penalties for certain actions defined asonline harassment, including the use of social networking websites on theInternet.
6 National Crime Prevention Council. “What is Cyberbullying?” National Crime Prevention Council http://www.ncpc.org/topics/cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying is-cyberbullying (accessed: July 7, 2009); National Crime Prevention Council. “Cyberbullying FAQ For Teens.” National Crime Prevention Council. http://www.ncpc.org/topics/cyberbullying/cyberbullying-faq-for-teens (accessed: July 7, 2009).
14 Office of the Attorney General of Texas. “Cyber Safety.” Office of the Attorney General of Texas https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/cj/cyber-safety tml (accessed: July 6, 2009).
18 Howard Witt. “To Texas AG, Net predators are fine prey.” Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-abbott_wittnov05-story.html (accessed: July 6, 2009).