Indiana laws regarding Intimidation, Harassment and Stalking
- Intimidation (IC 35-45-2-1)
- A person commits the act of intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor, when that person communicates a threat to another person, with the intent:
- That the other person engage in conduct against the other person’s will; or
- That the other person be placed in fear for a prior lawful act
- The offense is a D felony if:
- The threat is to commit a forcible felony;
- The victim of the threat is an employee of a school corporation; or
- The threat is communicated using property, including electronic equipment or systems, of a school corporation or other governmental entity
- As of July 1, 2013, “Communication” has been defined to include the posting of a message electronically, including on a social networking website
- Harassment (IC 35-45-2-2)
- A person commits the act of harassment, a Class B misdemeanor, when that person, with the intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person but with no intent of legitimate communication:
- Makes a phone call (doesn’t matter if the person did not answer);
- Communicates with a person by telegraph, mail or other written communication; or
- Uses a computer network or other form of electronic communication to:
- Communicate with a person; or
- Transmit an obscene message or indecent or profane words to a person
- “Obscene” is defined as being sexually inappropriate or anything lacking serious artistic, literary, political or scientific value
- Stalking (IC 35-45-10-5)
- A person commits the act of stalking, a Class D felony, when that person stalks another person
- "Stalk" means a knowing or an intentional course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another person that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened