{"id":387,"date":"2021-07-07T08:00:05","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T15:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elawrencelaw.com\/blog\/?p=387"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:36:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:36:37","slug":"is-cyberbullying-a-crime-in-the-state-of-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elawrencelaw.com\/blog\/is-cyberbullying-a-crime-in-the-state-of-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Cyberbullying a Crime in the State of Maryland?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As technology continues to become more intertwined with our\neveryday life, we\u2019ll continue to notice more and more instances of conventional\ncrimes manifested in the digital world. These days, cyberattacks, identity\ntheft and online predators are becoming commonplace. Naturally, bullying has\nalso made its way to the web. Under the following three statutes, cyberbullying\ncan be considered a crime in the state of Maryland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Harassment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maryland defines harassment as any public malicious\nengagement with the intention to harass or annoy another party. Since the\ninternet is indeed a public space, this legislation applies to interactions\nthat take place in person and online. If multiple requests to stop the\nharassment were provided and the harassment serves no legal purpose, it is\nconsidered a misdemeanor crime. The penalties for such a conviction include a\nfine of up to $500, up to 90 days of jail time or both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stalking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A conviction for stalking is also a misdemeanor crime, but\nit comes with the potential for steeper penalties than harassment. Stalking\noffenders could face a fine of up to $5,000 and a maximum of five years of\nprison time. This is largely due to the implications of the crime. At worst,\nharassment usually leads to discomfort and annoys the victim. Stalking, on the\nother hand, can make victims question their safety and reasonably fear for\nassault, injury or even death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misuse of Electronic Mail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maryland\u2019s laws regarding the misuse of electronic mail and\nharassment are actually slightly intertwined. The crime of misusing electronic\nmail effectively takes place when individuals use email as a means to harass\none or more individuals by sending lewd, lascivious or obscene material.\nAnother act that falls within the misuse of electronic mail is using a digital\ndevice to inflict emotional distress on a minor. Those convicted of misuse of\nelectronic mail are subject to a fine of up to $500 and a maximum of one year\nin jail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protect Yourself from a Cyberbullying Conviction with Elizabeth Anu\nLawrence Law<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Convictions of any kind can damage your future reputation, financial security, employment or housing opportunities, and rights as a citizen; having strong legal defense can help you in dismissing your charges, exploring your best options, or representing you in court.\u00a0 The Law Office of Elizabeth A. Lawrence offers high-quality legal representation, personal attention, and professionalism to help defend those who need it most.\u00a0 Click here<\/a> or call (410) 986-0088 to consult with an experienced attorney today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is cyberbullying a crime in Maryland? Discover what defines cyberbullying, and the potential consequences of a conviction. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-criminal-defense"],"yoast_head":"\nIs Cyberbullying a Crime in the State of Maryland?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is cyberbullying a crime in Maryland? 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