Cyber Bullying State Laws and Policies
October 8th, 2008 by admin
Recently, a number of states have passed strong cyber bullying laws that are designed to protect children from being harassed, threatened and humiliated online. These laws represent a crucial step towards National anti-cyber bullying laws which will protect children of all ages in every corner of the country.
Here is a state-by-state look at some of these laws:
Arkansas
In 2007, the Arkansas legislation passed a law allowing school officials to take action against cyber bullies even if the bullying did not originate or take place on school property. The law gave school administrators much more freedom to punish those individuals who sought to harass their fellow students.
Idaho
2006 saw Idaho lawmakers pass a law that allowed school officials to suspend students if they bullied or harassed other students using a telephone or computer.
Iowa
Iowa has passed several laws that force schools to create anti-cyber bullying policies which cover bullying “in schools, on school property or at any school function or school-sponsored activity.”
New Jersey
The Garden State of New Jersey has always maintained tough laws about bullying, but it wasn’t until 2007 that the laws were amended to include bullying via “electronic communication.” These laws give additional power to the school system to enforce bullying-related punishment for actions that may not take place while on school grounds.
Oregon
The progressive state of Oregon really delves into the details of cyber bullying. The laws passed in recent years in Oregon expand the boundaries of what constitutes cyber bullying to include those actions which “substantially interfere” with the education of the young person.
Missouri
The suicide of a 13-year old girl Megan Meier who was the victim of an internet hoax greatly raised the awareness of cyber bullying and its consequences in the state of Missouri. Governor Matt Blunt went so far as to create a task force whose sole purpose was to study and create laws regarding cyber bullying. As a result the Internet Harassment Task Force now stands as a shining example for other states around the country. Missouri has also toughened their laws on the matter, upgrading cyber-harassment from a misdemeanor to a Class D felony.
New York
New York created a system to investigate claims of cyber bullying that would help police and school officials better ascertain the circumstances of each occurrence and prosecute or punish the culprits to the fullest extent of the law.
Rhode Island
The governor of Rhode Island is currently trying to pass a bill that would force repeat cyber bullying offenders to appear in family court, where they would be charged as delinquents under the terms of the state’s laws for young offenders.
Vermont
Vermont has added a $500 fine for cyber bullying offenses to their already stringent laws on the matter. There is currently a bill being discussed that would increase the reach of the school’s powers regarding cyber bullying when the action puts the individual’s ability to learn (or health and safety) at risk.
Tags: cyber bullying laws, cyber bullying policies, cyberbullying law, cyberbullying laws, laws against cyber bullying, laws against cyberbullying
October 8th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Local state laws are WORTHLESS. I’ve been harassed by a “cyber bully” on and off for 5 years, and it doesn’t live in the same country, let alone state.
Our legislators are so out-of-date. They probably penned these laws to quash the nuisance of “indescent telegrams and telegraphs”.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
my 15 year old daughter has been a victim of this by a gal at her school….i went to the principal and also sent three emails to facebook where the main bullying is happening…i have yet to get a response…..my daughters account on there is no longer but the other girl keeps posting very bad things about my daughter it has been a nightmare……of course this is all happening in wisconsin
November 10th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I have been cyberbullied from this woman that was working for the Hard Rock Biloxi and ran off to Florida with my partner of 8 years. Leaving us behind in bills. Since Oct. 7 Court date it have gotten worse. I can’t take it anymore I’m 43 yrs old and no one will listen to me. I’m afraid of her, her behavior is out of this wolrd and she makes it look like it is me. I have had people review her harassment and she is bullying me and she made another page for my ex partner that does not even know how to turn on a computer much less make a myspace page and she is leaving nasty messages on his page also. I have saved everything and I hope one day some will take me serious on how scared I’m of her.
Lisa 45 and Kerry 43 zip 34484 They both scare me!
November 18th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
there is someone in my school who is a target of cyber bullying which is awful
January 29th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I have been getting bullied for many years and even more since my two kids are half black and half white…..ppl have left very rude comments about my children and about me whn i was with a black man. this needs to stop and the police are no help and i leave in nebraska….just recently my buddy who is handicap gets bullied and it pisses me off so bad. I hate it when the person/people do this. The law needs to change to protect everybody in everystate and out of the country even…not just a handful of states. THIS BULLYNG NEEDS TO QUIT NOW!!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I am very upset and feel completely vulnerable to a nameless, faceless cyber bully. Someone, who I cannot figure out, has erected a website that slanders me and people in my family in a very painful, horrible way. This person or persons also stole pictures of me from my website and posted mean, slanderous comments about my weight and daily habits that are untrue. The whole website is cruel, horrendous, and what I would deem cyber bullying. Where do I go, and what do I do to have this website removed from the internet? Does anyone know how I can protect myself and my family against this?
Thank you so much
March 26th, 2009 at 10:57 am
these states are farther along than the other less advanced states…this is a national issue. WHY CANT WE ACCEPT THAT!!
May 19th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
there was a topic site started about a cop that was fired for riding with someone that was drinking they had a wreck and the cop was severely injured and the driver also had illigal pills in his position. I learned of this web site and commented on it, now the ex cop has found out who me and my family is and is haveing other cop buddies make threats towards my daughter her husband and her children. what does this fall under in the arkansas law. I would like to know if there can be something done about it and if the web site can be shut down