Northwest Territories: The Education Act now includes a definition of “bullying” that includes acts committed in and out of school that are designed to cause fear or distress or create a negative learning environment, and where there is a real or perceived power difference between the abuser and the target. It also includes examples of cyberbullying, including impersonating a person online or sharing harmful content over the Internet. The law also requires school services to create safe schools plans that address bullying and cyberbullying. There is no federal law that applies specifically to bullying. In some cases, where bullying is based on race or ethnicity, colour, national origin, sex, disability or religion, bullying overlaps with harassment and schools are required by law to address it. Learn more about when bullying overlaps with harassment and how you can report it to the U.S. Department of Education`s Office of Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Education`s Civil Rights Division. Bullying is not a new problem.
However, in recent years, it has shifted from school grounds and school buses to social networking sites and text messaging. Cyberbullying is the use of the Internet or mobile technology to harass, intimidate or harm others. Almost every state has bullying laws to combat traditional bullying. A growing number of them have regulations on online bullying or electronic harassment. For example, the state of Massachusetts passed a law prohibiting bullying on school grounds or at a school-sponsored event. It does not matter whether the bullying takes place in person or through an electronic device. In addition, Massachusetts schools must now develop an anti-bullying plan and develop anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. Most states have school penalties for cyberbullying or electronic bullying in general. Below is a selection of state laws dealing with cyberbullying: In extreme cases of cyberbullying, federal criminal harassment charges may be laid.
In such a case, a person is placed in justified fear of death or serious injury to himself, his family or a spouse/partner. Manitoba: In 2013, the province passed legislation that defines bullying in a way that specifically includes cyberbullying and blames parents for cyberbullying their children if parents are aware of it, can reasonably predict its effects, and do nothing to stop it. It also gives judges or justices of the peace the power to issue protection orders that may deter an perpetrator from contacting the target or even using digital communication. The law also defines a crime of cyberbullying in civil law and allows targets to sue the perpetrators or, in some cases, their parents. Oklahoma Okla. Stat. Ann. § Sec.70-24-100.4- Includes electronic communications in the definition of bullying on school grounds.
The State of Oklahoma prohibits this threatening behavior, and every education agency in the county is required to adopt a policy for the control and discipline of all children attending a public school in that county and to investigate reported incidents or harassment, bullying, bullying, or threatening behavior. The Act also prescribes the establishment of an bullying unit to be taught as part of health education. Cyberbullying would be included in this new unit. American Samoa Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 46.3524- Harassment Act, which can be used to prosecute cyberbullying. Each school has its own guidelines for managing student behavior. Cyberbullying can also include images, messages, or web pages that are not deleted after the person has requested it. Indiana does not have a cyberbullying law, but laws on bullying, harassment, and computer intrusion that can be used to prosecute cyberbullying: IND. Code Ann. § 35-45-2-1, 35-45-2-2, 35-43-2-3. State Senator Tom Wyss is trying to extend current bullying laws to cyberbullying.
People who have become victims of cyberbullying may have difficulty getting the person to quit smoking. A possible alternative is to file a civil lawsuit. The victim`s parents may complain of physical and mental harm. In this case, the parent would have to prove that the victim suffered physical and mental pain. In a civil lawsuit, it is also possible to seek an injunction that keeps the bully away from the child online and offline. Wyoming passed a law in 2009 that included cyberbullying in its definition of harassment, bullying and bullying. (W.S.A. § 21-4-311 to 21-4-315). The law requires each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying, bullying or bullying in schools.
The school district is required to involve parents, school employees, students, community representatives and administrators in the creation of the policy. The directive must include a reporting system, consequences, “no retaliation”, immediate investigations and a strategy to protect the victim from further intimidation or harassment. Delaware 14 Del. Code Ann. Sec. 4123A – Gives school administrators the power to take action against technology-related bullying that occurs on or off school grounds, provided there is a significant connection to the school. Each school district must develop a no-reprisal anti-bullying policy that includes appropriate reporting obligations and consequences for violations. The law also requires the Ministry of Education to coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to formulate and revise a model policy on bullying. In 2008, the Harassment and Obscene Communication Act was amended to include cyberbullying. This legislation provides a legal definition of cyberbullying and describes the sentence. Pennsylvania 24 PS 13-1303.1A- Includes electronic bullying in its general definition of bullying.
Each “entity” of the school had to adopt an anti-bullying policy by January 1, 2009, which it must review every 3 years. The policy must include disciplinary consequences and may require prevention, education and intervention programs. The anti-bullying policy may include measures that take place outside of a school if other legal requirements are met. The introduced version of this act attempted to make school safety grants conditional on the adequacy of a school`s bullying reporting policies and procedures, but this provision was not included in the final version. However, the Public Schools Code allows certain educational subsidies to be given to schools with strong bullying policies. Schools must report to the Ministry of Education to determine if their policies are appropriate. Chances are, this topic has touched your family`s life in some way. Dealing with cyberbullying can be stressful and scary, and you may not know how to handle the situation. This blog post is designed to give you a better understanding of what cyberbullying really is, as well as resources to learn more about it.