Cyber bullying laws in DC?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the cyber bullying laws are in DC? It seems like they leave some of the "punishment" up to the schools. But if it's a private school where it's the big donor's kid(s) is/are doing the bullying, they are not inclined to actually punish. Can the victim talk to the police instead?

[Anonymous]

I'll be curious to know what people say about this. Schools seem to want to stay out of things unless it happens at school. I think the police would be a good option. It sounds awful for all involved but could you threaten the school or kid with making the bully's messages public?

I'm sorry that you're going through this, and I hope that you can get this to stop.

[Anonymous]

No, the police are not going to help unless there are violent threats. If it's that bad, please just change schools.

[Anonymous]

Could always try filing a lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress...especially if the perpetrators have money...that seems to be the only thing to get some people's attention. Or even perhaps negligent infliction against the school for not doing anything to stop it. No idea how this would play out, but the lack of merit doesn't seem to be a deterrent to filing a lawsuit these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could always try filing a lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress...especially if the perpetrators have money...that seems to be the only thing to get some people's attention. Or even perhaps negligent infliction against the school for not doing anything to stop it. No idea how this would play out, but the lack of merit doesn't seem to be a deterrent to filing a lawsuit these days.

changing schools and getting therapy would be a much more sane solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, the police are not going to help unless there are violent threats. If it's that bad, please just change schools.

Why should they have to change schools?

[Anonymous]

Wow - just change schools?! WTF. I hope none of you have to deal with this. Changing schools and letting the bully "win" is not the answer.

Without knowing the exact content of the cyberbullying, it is hard to say if the conduct is criminal under DC law (see below). However, you should report it to the school and file a police report. And then seek out resources to help your child through this.

Here's the DC law on stalking, which would likely encompass cyber bullying.

Under D.C. law, a person commits the crime of stalking by using any form of communication, including electronic communication:

1. to engage in a course of conduct

2. directed at a specific individual

3. with the intent to cause the victim to fear for his or her own safety or the safety of another, or to feel alarmed, disturbed, frightened, or emotionally distressed;

4. and, that the person reasonably should have known would cause the victim to feel such fear, alarm, disturbance, or emotional distress.

(D.C. Code Ann. § 22-3133.) Stalking may be accomplished by any means, including electronic communication, monitoring, spycams, spyware, or any other means. (D.C. Code Ann. § 22-3132.)

[Anonymous]

Changing schools does not stop cyber bullying! I have seen messages sent to friends at the new school from the bully at the old school saying horrible disgusting things (not my child, but her close friend)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow - just change schools?! WTF. I hope none of you have to deal with this. Changing schools and letting the bully "win" is not the answer.

Without knowing the exact content of the cyberbullying, it is hard to say if the conduct is criminal under DC law (see below). However, you should report it to the school and file a police report. And then seek out resources to help your child through this.

Here's the DC law on stalking, which would likely encompass cyber bullying.

Under D.C. law, a person commits the crime of stalking by using any form of communication, including electronic communication:

1. to engage in a course of conduct

2. directed at a specific individual

3. with the intent to cause the victim to fear for his or her own safety or the safety of another, or to feel alarmed, disturbed, frightened, or emotionally distressed;

4. and, that the person reasonably should have known would cause the victim to feel such fear, alarm, disturbance, or emotional distress.

(D.C. Code Ann. § 22-3133.) Stalking may be accomplished by any means, including electronic communication, monitoring, spycams, spyware, or any other means. (D.C. Code Ann. § 22-3132.)

Yep. Online threats would fall under this law, and you should report it to the police. The victim should not delete any posts, texts, etc., and should maintain a journal of any non-electronic threats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could always try filing a lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress...especially if the perpetrators have money...that seems to be the only thing to get some people's attention. Or even perhaps negligent infliction against the school for not doing anything to stop it. No idea how this would play out, but the lack of merit doesn't seem to be a deterrent to filing a lawsuit these days.

changing schools and getting therapy would be a much more sane solution.

You actually think changing schools solves cyber-bullying? Naa, hitting people in the pocket where it hurts is usually what does.

[Anonymous]

If we leave the school name out of it maybe the thread won't be deleted this time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we leave the school name out of it maybe the thread won't be deleted this time

Seems like the OP got some good information. Not sure why a school would need to be named.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could always try filing a lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress...especially if the perpetrators have money...that seems to be the only thing to get some people's attention. Or even perhaps negligent infliction against the school for not doing anything to stop it. No idea how this would play out, but the lack of merit doesn't seem to be a deterrent to filing a lawsuit these days.

changing schools and getting therapy would be a much more sane solution.

You actually think changing schools solves cyber-bullying? Naa, hitting people in the pocket where it hurts is usually what does.

If things were SO bad that you were honestly considering going to the police or suing, then yes, I think your #1 concern is the immediate mental health of your child, and switching schools is in order. This isn't about justice, but about helping your kid. If you're dead set on justice, you can always continue your (likely fruitless) legal efforts after you change the school. If the cyber-bullying somehow continues after the child has left the school (seems unlikely) then you'd have to consider other measures. But still, likely the approach is going to be helping your kid cope, because a lawsuit is A) going to take a very long time and B) not likely to be successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could always try filing a lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress...especially if the perpetrators have money...that seems to be the only thing to get some people's attention. Or even perhaps negligent infliction against the school for not doing anything to stop it. No idea how this would play out, but the lack of merit doesn't seem to be a deterrent to filing a lawsuit these days.

changing schools and getting therapy would be a much more sane solution.

You actually think changing schools solves cyber-bullying? Naa, hitting people in the pocket where it hurts is usually what does.

If things were SO bad that you were honestly considering going to the police or suing, then yes, I think your #1 concern is the immediate mental health of your child, and switching schools is in order. This isn't about justice, but about helping your kid. If you're dead set on justice, you can always continue your (likely fruitless) legal efforts after you change the school. If the cyber-bullying somehow continues after the child has left the school (seems unlikely) then you'd have to consider other measures. But still, likely the approach is going to be helping your kid cope, because a lawsuit is A) going to take a very long time and B) not likely to be successful.

Clearly you have no experience with someone being cyber-bullied. The last time I checked public internet sites are not restricted to specific schools. Changing schools will not resolve anything.

[Anonymous]

Cyber bully is sctuslly what stemmed from parents. In my practice, each time the parent(s) or guardians had been a key factor for the child's behaviors and character such as: mean spirit as in the lack of empathy, compassion, regard to other' wellbeing; high above average degree of self-centeredness and selfishness, narcissistic and NPD symptoms.

My DD was bullied (not cyber bullied) in her small independent school. I requested meetings with the owner and director along with several teachers, I showed them the evidences, requested to implement the most suitable solutions. The bullying behaviors stoped soon after.

In case of a powerful and elite school, the solution or to get the behaviors to stop sure will be much more complicated and it definitely requires a strong leadership and it's resolve.