It is a criminal offense to communicate with or threaten a person with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass the person. Criminal harassment may take many forms, and may be classified as the criminal offense of stalking, cyberbullying, or hate crimes—depending on the applicable state or federal law.

Laws vary from state to state, but a person generally commits a crime if, with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass another, the person:

• initiates communication and in the course of the communication makes a comment, request, suggestion, or proposal that is obscene;

• threatens to inflict bodily injury or to commit a felony against the person, a member of the person’s family or household, or the person’s property in a manner reasonably likely to alarm the person;

• communicates a false report (that the communicator knows is false) that another person has suffered death or serious bodily injury, and does so in a manner reasonably likely to alarm the person receiving the report;

• causes the telephone number of another person to ring repeatedly, or makes repeated telephone communications anonymously or in a manner reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, embarrass, or offend another;

• makes a telephone call and intentionally fails to hang up or disengage the connection;

• knowingly permits a telephone under the person’s control to be used by another to harass someone;

• sends repeated electronic communications in a manner reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, embarrass, or offend another person.

The offense of criminal harassment is different from sexual or other harassment that may occur in the workplace, for example, and that is prohibited by state and federal law. Harassment in the workplace generally incurs potential civil liability (money damages in a lawsuit) but not criminal charges—unless the conduct is sufficiently egregious to constitute criminal harassment.

In Michigan, criminal harassment is addressed under various statutes that prohibit conduct intended to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass a person. Michigan law criminalizes stalking under MCL 750.411h and 750.411i, which includes repeated harassment that causes a victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested. Cyberbullying is specifically addressed under MCL 750.411s, making it a crime to post a message through any electronic medium with the intent to harm or intimidate any person. This can include threats of violence, posting personal information, or sending communications intended to cause emotional distress. Additionally, Michigan's Ethnic Intimidation Act, MCL 750.147b, covers hate crimes, which involve harassment or physical harm based on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin. While workplace harassment can lead to civil liability, it may also constitute criminal harassment if it involves threats of violence or other conduct covered by criminal statutes. It's important to note that the specific circumstances of each case determine whether the behavior qualifies as criminal harassment, and individuals facing such issues should consult with an attorney for legal advice tailored to their situation.