Harassment can be a variety of activities that result in causing an individual to feel threatened, uncomfortable, frightened or offended. The person doing the harassment may not intend to cause these feelings, however their actions, regardless of their intentions, are causing the victim to experience feelings of fear, concern, offense or intimidation of some fashion. Harassment may include verbal communication, third party communication, unwanted gifts, attention, written material or even pictures, and stalking.
Harassment Penalties
For misdemeanor harassment charges typically the offender have a combination of penalties put into place. In addition the court will often issue a restraining order that limits the offender's ability to interact with the targeted individual. With some types of harassment there is also the possibility of felony charges should the behavior escalate or continue.
Possible Penalties
- Fines
- Counseling
- Probation
- Community service
- Jail time
Harassment Sentencing
Harassment laws have become more specific with time and technology and sentencing is becoming easier as videotapes, computer recordings and even cell phones have made proving this crime possible. Courts tend to include counseling or mandatory classes for first offenses along with fines, possible probation or even jail time if the harassment escalates, continues or is defined as stalking. Your attorney will work to prove that harassment did not happen and that there was no intent to cause discomfort with your actions, which can reduce the charges or even have them dismissed if this is found to be true.
Hiring An Attorney For Harassment Charges
A harassment charge on your criminal record can serious impact your ability to work in certain professional fields, so dealing with the charges and fighting in court to clear your name is essential. A criminal defense attorney that has experience in fighting harassment charges may be able to have the charges dropped or reduced, eliminating this type of a charge on your record.
- If you have been charged with Harassment, Submit Your Case for a Free Review from a skilled Criminal Defense Attorney.
Harassment: Fines and Jail by State
Penalties Vary Greatly by Case! For accurate penalties, talk to the court clerk or a lawyer!
| State | Avg. Fines | Avg. Jail | Avg. Probation | Other |
| Alabama | 500-6000 | 3 months-1 year | 6 months-3 years | Not Available |
| Alaska | up to $1000 | up to 1 year | up to 1 year | Judge may order mediation for both parties involved. |
| Arizona | Varies by Case | 9 months - 2 years as a class 5 felony | As a class 1 misdemeanor 3 years; as a class 5 felony - 3 years. | Not Available |
| Arkansas | 250-500 | 3-5 years suspended | 3-5 years | Not Available |
| California | 150-200 | 1 week | Varies by Case | Not Available |
| Colorado | 250-200 max | 2 weeks to 30 days | 4 years min | Cs |
| Connecticut | up to $500 | usually no jail time is given | up to 1 year | mediation |
| Delaware | 150-250 | over night to 30 days | 3-5 years | Not Available |
| Florida | $500 to $10000 | 60-90 days | up to two years | Not Available |
| Georgia | 100 to 500 | 1 year max | 2 years | Anger management |
| Hawaii | up to $500 | up to 30 days | Varies by Case | In Hawaii, harassment is a petty misdemeanor. |
| Idaho | Up to $1000 | six (6) months | Varies by Case | misdemeanor |
| Illinois | 50000 | 3-7 years | Varies by Case | Misdemeanor Charges |
| Indiana | fines reaching $1000 | 180 days in jail | up to 5 years | Not Available |
| Iowa | up to $250 | up to 6 months | up to 1 year | Judge may order community service as a result. |
| Kansas | up to $2,500 | 1 year | Varies by Case | Not Available |
| Kentucky | $250 + court costs | up to 90 days | Varies by Case | Not Available |
| Louisiana | 200-10,000 | up to 6 months or 2 years, depending on it being a repeat offense | Varies by Case | Not Available |
| Maine | 250-500 | 6m-1 yr | 5 yrs | CS |
| Maryland | 300-500 | 30-90 days | 2 years | Not Available |
| Massachusetts | 1000-5000 $ | 2-5 years | 2 1/2 years | Not Available |
| Michigan | $1,000 to $10,000 depending on circumstances | 1 to 5 years | not more than 5 years | Not Available |
| Minnesota | not more than $20000 | max 30 days | Varies by Case | Not Available |
| Mississippi | Varies by Case | Upto 1 year | Varies by Case | seize any wildlife, records, or property taken, or used in connection with the violation. |
| Missouri | 150 | 3 weekends | 2 years | Not Available |
| Montana | 250-500 | 2-7 years suspended | 3 years | Anger mangement |
| Nebraska | up to $1000 | up to 12 months | determined by the jude or plea agreed upon by the prosecution | determined by the jude or plea agreed upon by the prosecution |
| Nevada | up to $1000 dollars | up to 6 months | up to 6 months | Judge may order mediation and/or counseling. |
| New Hampshire | 24000 | 10 to 12 years | five years | community service |
| New Jersey | $15000 in fines | 3 to 5 year state prison range | 12 to 16 months | Not Available |
| New Mexico | 500-1000 $ | up to 1 year | Varies by Case | suspension |
| New York | 150-250 | Varies Widely by Case | 2-3 years | Anger Mangement |
| North Carolina | N.A. | 4-8 months for persons with no criminal history; upto 25 months in extreme cases | Varies by Case | Not Available |
| North Dakota | $100 to $1000 | 2 days to 18 months | upto 20 years | Not Available |
| Ohio | up to $500 | up to 90 days | up to 1 year | Judge may order community service. |
| Oklahoma | 500 | 1 month | 6 months | community service |
| Oregon | 500 | Class B misdemeanor | 5 years | CS |
| Pennsylvania | no fine | Up to 10 Years in Prison | no probation | Not Available |
| Rhode Island | 10000 | 5 years | 3 years | community service |
| South Carolina | 2nd degree: not more than $200; 1st degree: not more than $1000 | 2nd degree: not more than 30 days; 1st degree: not more than 3 years | Varies by Case | Not Available |
| South Dakota | upto $5000 | up to 1 year in county jail | upto 5 years | Not Available |
| Tennessee | 250 | weekends | 2 years | cs |
| Texas | 250 | 15 days-30 days | 2 years | Not Available |
| Utah | 1000 | 4320 hours | 180 days | Not Available |
| Vermont | 250 | 3 months | 2 years | revoked or suspended license, $20.00 |
| Virginia | 250-500 | Varies Widely by Case | 2 years | Not Available |
| Washington | Not more than $5000 if misdemeanor. | Not more than 1 year, if misdemeanor. | Varies by Case | Generally a gross misdemeanor; can be Class C Felony under certain conditions. |
| West Virginia | 250-500 | 2 week to 30 days | 3 years max | Not Available |
| Wisconsin | fines up to $500 | jail sentence of up to 30 days | no probation | Not Available |
| Wyoming | not more than seven hundred fifty dollars | 2 weeks to 30 days | 2 years | Not Available |
