24 Mar 2023
Criminal Defense
Physical violence and threats of physical violence might be what many people associate with harassment, but there’s more to it than these actions. While many people might think they understand what it means to harass another person, they likely aren’t fully aware of what the law considers to be harassment. Various actions and behaviors can result in harassment charges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania takes harassment charges seriously. If you’ve been charged with harassing someone, you need a strong criminal defense attorney to help. Learn more about harassment charges in Pennsylvania.
Definition of Harassment in Pennsylvania
The following actions and behaviors are considered harassment in Pennsylvania when the person acts with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm someone else:- Striking, shoving, kicking, or committing another physical act, or attempting or threatening to
- Following someone in or about a public place or places
- Engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts that serve no legitimate purpose
- Communicating to or about someone lewd, lascivious, threatening, or obscene words, language, drawings, or caricatures
- Communicating repeatedly in an anonymous manner;
- Communicating repeatedly at extremely inconvenient hours; or
- Communicating repeatedly in another manner
- Makes a seriously disparaging statement or opinion about the child's physical characteristics, sexuality, sexual activity, or mental or physical health or condition
- Threatens to inflict harm