Does Illinois have a cyberbullying law?
Someone who harasses another through electronic communications may be guilty of a crime in Illinois. And every school district in Illinois must develop and maintain a policy prohibiting and addressing student-on-student bullying and cyberbullying.
What qualifies as a harassment charge Illinois?
Illinois criminal law describes Harassment as “intentional acts which can cause someone to be worried, anxious, or uncomfortable.” Such actions may include making an obscene or indecent comment or request with the intent to offend, threaten, or annoy someone.
What happens when you get charged with harassment in Illinois?
While Harassment by Telephone may initially appear to be a minor crime, Illinois law mandates a minimum jail term for a second or subsequent violation of this or other harassment-based communication offenses.
Is online harassment a crime in Illinois?
In terms of punishment, Illinois law states that a first conviction of cyberstalking is a Class 4 felony. Further convictions will be considered as Class 3 felonies, carrying the possibility of a two to five-year sentence in the state penitentiary.
Is impersonating someone online illegal in Illinois?
Impersonating other people for personal gain can warrant criminal prosecution in Illinois.
Can you sue for harassment on social media?
Yes, you can sue for social media defamation. However, while it may seem natural to want to sue the social media platform for defamation, your best option is to file a defamation lawsuit against the individual poster or commenter.
What is electronic communication harassment?
makes repeated contact by means of electronic communications, whether or not a conversation ensues; or. after the recipient has requested or informed the defendant not to contact the recipient, and the person repeatedly or continuously: contacts the electronic communication device of the recipients; or.
What is Illinois cyberstalking?
According to the laws in Illinois, a person commits cyberstalking when he or she uses electronic communication directed at a specific person, and he or she knows or should know that it would cause fear for that person’s safety or the safety of a third person, or that the targeted victim would suffer other emotional …
Is harassment a felony in Illinois?
All of these examples can apply to any other form of communication, it is not limited to communication by telephone. Harassment charges range from a class B misdemeanor for initial offenses, to class 4 felonies for repeat offenders.
How can I prove cyberstalking?
Set Accounts to Private Limiting the amount of personal information that is public is an effective way to prove someone is cyberstalking you. If personal information and photographs are not easily accessible to the general public, a cyberstalker may have difficulty explaining how they accessed it.