Experiencing harassment can be detrimental to your physical and mental health. These attacks can happen anywhere — at work, in a public space, or even anonymously online. If you can’t stop harassment legally, it can have long lasting emotional ramifications and may even threaten your physical wellbeing.
Harassment happens more than you may think and attacks different demographics at disproportionate rates. Over 80% of both Women and members of the LGBTQ+ community reported they had previously been harassed. Roughly two-thirds of adults under the age of 30 have experienced some form of online harassment. With figures like these, it’s important to be able to recognize and stop harassment.
What Constitutes Harassment?
Before you begin seeking legal representation, we suggest taking the time to understand the definition of harassment. Harassment is the intentional and continual execution of actions intended to degrade, perturb, harm, or threaten a victim. Regardless of how it’s conducted, most legal cases require evidence of the perpetrator’s intentions, the repetition of harmful actions, and the jeopardy of the victim’s wellbeing.
Types of Harassment
Harassment can come in many different forms. The methods differ based on the perpetrator’s path of action, but the intent remains the same. Knowing the differences is crucial to your ability to stop harassment.
Types of Cyber Harassment
- Threatening Messages. Sending intimidating messages promising some type of harm.
- Cyber Bullying. Insulting, ridiculing, or bullying in a digital space. This includes offensive comments, hate speech, and trolling to elicit an angry response.
- Cyber Stalking. Monitoring someone’s activity, tracking their location, investigating public records, or continuous unwanted contact.
- Doxxing. Exposing private information, such as addresses, phone numbers, emails, or places of work or school. While there are many arguments about the legality of it, many jurisdictions consider it a crime.
- Revenge Porn. Non-consensual distribution of explicit media by an ex-partner or significant other with the intent to humiliate the victim.
Types of In-Person Harassment
- Sexual Harassment. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests, and other verbal or physical actions of a sexual nature.
- Workplace Harassment. Any behavior by coworkers, superiors, or clients that creates a hostile work environment.
- Verbal Abuse. Insults or offensive remarks meant to degrade the target.
- Threats of Violence. Communication of intent to cause physical harm.
- Stalking. Following, watching, or contacting someone repeatedly.
How Can I Stop Someone from Harassing Me?
While many states vary on what compromises harassment, each has laws that deem the act to be illegal. However, the majority of states need you to properly identify your harasser to report the incident to law enforcement.
With the obscurity of online crimes, there are many unique difficulties in combating cyber harassment. However, there are organizations that can help you take action to stop harassment.
Express Your Boundaries
Begin by making it clear to your harasser that their behavior is uninvited and needs to stop. While harassment can be overwhelming, it’s important to remain calm and collected. You should address them directly. If you are in public, it may be beneficial to make others aware of the situation.
Document the Incident
It’s critical that you record details of the harassment if you plan to take legal action. Document the person’s name or physical description, the action they committed, and the time and location of the harassment. For cyber harassment, you should take note of the account, platform, and any messages that display their unauthorized behavior.
Contact Law Enforcement
Your next step should be reporting the harasser to the police with whatever evidence you have. Their ability to stop harassment may be limited if you don’t know the identity and location of the perpetrator. However, a police report will be useful in the next steps of the investigation. If you believe the situation is an emergency, you should call 9-1-1.
What are Your Legal Options to Stop Harassment?
Legislation varies from region to region, and the actions you can take often differ accordingly. However, there are legal measures you can take that are generally available in most cases. You may find it helpful to seek the assistance of legal counsel before deciding which action to pursue. They can advise you on harassment laws, help file for legal protections, and assist you in building your case.
Cease-and-Desist Letter
While it’s not a legally enforceable document, a cease-and-desist letter can be a valuable tool to stop harassment. It serves as a warning to the perpetrator that further action will be taken if their behavior persists. Furthermore, it documents that you have expressed your disapproval of the harassment. This can be extremely beneficial when trying to prove the perpetrator had the intent to cause you distress.
Restraining Order
If the harassment continues after you’ve issued a cease-and-desist letter, you should consider filing a restraining order. Unlike the cease-and-desist letter, a restraining order is legally binding, and violations can result in fines and imprisonment. If you are in immediate danger, the court may issue you a temporary protective order until a hearing is held.
Civil Lawsuit
You can seek litigation for damages that result from harassment. The laws vary by state, but you can typically sue on the grounds of discrimination or emotional distress. To sue your harasser, you need to prove that it is more likely than not that the following occurred:
- The perpetrator acted with the intention of inflicting emotional distress.
- Their behavior was extreme and outrageous.
- The emotional distress was severe enough to disrupt your daily life.
Judges often award compensatory damages to victims in successful civil suits, and sometimes punitive damages in severe cases.
Criminal Charges
Criminal cases require the same proof and then some, with a higher level of burden on the prosecution. In addition to the requirements of a civil case, you must also prove the harasser’s actions are explicitly criminalized. This includes behaviors such as stalking or threats of violence. Furthermore, criminal cases shift the burden of proof from “more likely than not” to “beyond a reasonable doubt”. Penalties for a successful criminal harassment conviction can include misdemeanor and even felony charges.
Leveraging the Help of Digital Investigators to Stop Harassment
Collecting evidence of cyber harassment can be more difficult than cases of in-person harassment. In cases where you can’t uncover your cyber harasser’s identity, digital investigators can help. They employ innovative forensic techniques to help track the sources of malicious conduct and stop harassment.
At Digital Forensics Corp., we employ rigorous analysis to locate and stop cyber harassment. We assist in identifying offenders and improving your safety by analyzing digital footprints. Our team is dedicated to providing accurate guidance throughout the entire investigation and ongoing protection after its conclusion.
If you need professional assistance to stop harassment, DFC is a phone call away. We are available 24/7 to combat different cybercrimes across the globe. You can either use our website chat or call directly into our helpline for a free consultation.
