How Donotpay Can Help
If youre too busy to file a police report or dont feel like going through the process yourself, DoNotPay can help take the burden from you. Our Police report product is designed to simplify the entire process. It will point you to the needed evidence and even contact the police on your behalf. And the best part is its easy and fast to use. All you have to do is:
And youre good to do. DoNotPay will file a police report to the police station near where the incident happened. Youll only need to wait for further communication and status updates, which often come within two weeks of filing.
Complaints About Police Officers
If you have experienced police misconduct:
- Contact the law enforcement agency involved.
- Submit your complaint in writing to the chief of police or the head of the law enforcement agency involved.
- Send a copy of your complaint to the Internal Affairs Division of the law enforcement agency. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself.
If the problem remains unresolved, learn how to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
Finally, as with any potential legal dispute, you may want to contact a licensed attorney.
What Qualifies As Harassment
Another important thing you need to know about is whether something actually counts as harassment or not.
The legal definition of harassment can change in each state, so it is very important that you check the specific statutes within your local jurisdiction.
That being said, in most states harassment is usually defined as a misdemeanor, in which you are suffering discrimination, threats, direct danger to your wellbeing, and similar.In order to be able to claim harassment, you will need to prove two main things:
- Firstly, prove that you felt harassed due to something that was said or done to you
- Secondly, prove that what was said or done to you, was out of an intent to torment, scare, threaten, or embarrass you.
The penalty for the harassment will then depend on the type of harassment, the severity, the situation, and the state in which you are in.
You May Like: How To Become A Police Detective In Texas
Using This System Allows You To Submit A Report Immediately
How to Report a CrimePlease confirm the following to find out if online filing is right for you:
For emergencies, please call .For non-emergencies you may also call .
Types of incidents that can be reported online:
- Custody Order Violation
- Harassing Phone Calls excluding threats of imminent harm or death
- Hit & Run Property damage only
- Theft Except motor vehicles and license plates
- Supplemental Property Form Add additional property to your original case number
- Vandalism Excluding graffiti
- Vehicle Burglary
Upon completion of this process you will: See the words: Your report has been submitted showing that your report is complete. You will also be given a temporary case number and be able to print a copy of the report to keep for your records.
Please Note: All cases filed online will be reviewed. Upon review, if further investigation of your case is needed, you may be contacted. Filing a false police report is a crime.
The Social Stigma Which Would Otherwise Be There In Cases Of Offline/physical Staking Is Not There In The Cases Of Cyberstalking
Generally, when the physical staking takes place, and the woman thinks of reporting the said incident, she also thinks of the social stigma attached to it. That is, how people will react to it, people will discourage her from proceeding with the complaint as the belief is that such things are routine, she will be told that if she reports the matter then the accused will do more harm to her, nobody will marry her if the incident becomes common knowledge, and her parents and family will restrain her from going out. But these things are unlikely to occur as a result of cyberstalking, as this act happens on the internet and nobody will ever come to know that the complainant has been ever stalked, not even her family if she chooses not to disclose it.
You May Like: Where Can I Read Police Reports Online
Use Donotpay To Protect Yourself From An Online Stalker
Online stalking can cause fear and anxiety, but putting up resistance and taking action against the aggressor can be your road to recovery. DoNotPay is here to help you fight back. Heres how you can use our app:
Once you provide our chatbot with all information, we will get in touch with online platforms where you were subjected to cyberstalking. Heres what DoNotPay will do on your behalf:
- Report the cyber stalker so that their account goes under investigation
- Try to get a social media platform to block the stalker so that they cant reach out to you anymore
Registration Of Written Complaint
The victim must register her written complaint to their native cyber-cell in the city. If there is no cyber-cell in the city, then they can approach the local police station with the written complaint to have their complaint registered. The written complaint must contain all the known sequence of events along with the id and email of the alleged stalker.
Read Also: How To Prove A Police Report Is False
Federal Stalking And Harassment Statutes
The legal definition of cyberstalking varies across jurisdictions. Some states will qualify internet stalking offenses as misdemeanors, but if the stalkers are persistent, they can end up being convicted as felons.
Online stalking requires proof of specific intent for the stalker to be charged with a crime. This means that the victim needs to prove that the stalker had malicious intent to cause harm to them. If the prosecutor has no evidence of the attack, no charges can be raised.
In the United States, cyberstalking is a criminal offense. The first anti-cyberstalking law was passed in California in 1999. Lots of other states have followed this example, but it wasnt until the 2010s that cyberstalking has received adequate attention from the lawmakers.
Although there is no legal act dedicated to cyber harassment in the U.S, some federal laws govern online stalking to a degree. In the table below, you will find which laws tackle internet harassment.
Federal Law |
If a stalker threatens to publish the victims photo or a video, they may be charged with extortion if the perpetrator communicated with the victim via interstate commerce channels |
Am I A Victim Of Crime
Information about these crimes is available through the Office of Victims of Crime.
If you are in immediate danger, or have been a victim of a crime, please call 911.
If you are unsure if you have been the victim of a crime, the NYPD encourages you to visit your local precinct and speak to a police officer to discuss the details of your situation.
Yes. As a crime victim, you have rights granted by federal and state law. Learn more about your rights through the Office of Victim Services .
Don’t Miss: Where To Get Police Report
Breach Of A Restraining Order
Sections 3 and 5 make it an offence for the defendant to do anything which he is prohibited from doing under an injunction issued under section 3, or a restraining order issued under section 5.
It should be noted that whereas the section 2 and 4 offences require a course of conduct, breaches of court orders require only a single act.
Defence to Breach of Criminal or Civil Order
The sole defence to a breach of a criminal or a civil order is that the defendant had a reasonable excuse. The standard of proof, which it is for the defendant to put forward, is the balance of probabilities.
Also Check: When To Report Accident To Police
What Victims Of Stalking Should Do If Stalked/harassed
The following is a list of suggestions for what to do if you or someone you know believes they may be the victim of stalking.
Don’t Miss: How To File A Police Report For Stolen Medication
What Can You Do If You Believe You Are A Victim Of Cyberstalking
If you start receiving unwanted messages or threats online, do not panic. There are several ways to defend yourself. If you are subjected to harassment on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, take a look at the guidelines that these platforms offer to help you deal with it.
You can also follow our instructions on what to do if you believe you are a victim of cyberstalking.
What Are The Elements Of The Crime
In the same way that the prosecutor proves that someone is guilty of violating the traditional California anti-stalking law.with the additional requirement that the credible threat is communicated via an electronic device.4
In short, the prosecutor must prove that you
For a comprehensive explanation of the facts that are necessary to prove a cyberstalking charge, please review our article on California Penal Code 646.9 PC stalking.
Read Also: Can I See Police Reports Online
Individuals Can Keep In Mind The Following While Using The Internet
- Never mention your personal information and family information on social media and always make your account private and keep the data set to close friends only.
- Never update your current location or places you are visiting on social media and also, remove events you are about to attend in future.
- Never add unknown persons to your social media account to increase your number of followers.
- Always use the secured site for browsing information and making payments.
- Always remember to log out from any website or application when you are not using it.
Fixated Threat Assessment Centre
The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre is a joint police/mental health unit established by the Home Office, the Department of Health and the Metropolitan Police Service. It assesses and manages the risk posed by people who engage in bizarre communications or contact prominent people in public life and who additionally pose a risk to the public, the prominent person and themselves. This is particularly so in environments where there are armed police officers. This involves referrals to mental health services and where necessary criminal investigation. They can be a useful contact in complex cases.
Fixated Threat Assessment Centre
You May Like: Can I Request A Copy Of My Police Statement
Discuss The Steps With Your Child
Discussing what you have learned about the laws and procedures with your child or teen is important because it helps you and your child keep a strong line of communication while you chart out the best course of action. Cyberbullying robs victims of their sense of control, but by including your child in the process of resolving the issue, you help them regain that control.
What Is The Criminal Penalty For Online Harassment In California
Cyber Harassment 653.2 PC
Cyber harassment is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, by a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
Cyberstalking 646.9 PC
Cyberstalking is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, by a fine of $1,000, or both.
However, several aggravating factors can extend the sentence. If the offender commits cyberstalking in violation of a temporary restraining order, injunction, or other court order, the sentence can be increased to state imprisonment for two, three, or four years.
If the offender has been convicted of sexual assault or criminal threatening, the sentence can be increased to two, three, or five years in state prison.
In addition, a person convicted of felony stalking can be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Cyber Exploitation 647 PC
Cyber exploitation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in the county jail, a fine of $1,000, or both.
Multiple amplifiers can increase a perpetrators sentence. If the offender is being convicted for a second or subsequent violation, punishment is increased to up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
If the victim is a minor at the time of the offense, then the crime becomes punishable by jail for one year, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
Threats 422 PC
Communicating criminal threats is a misdemeanor under California law and is punishable by imprisonment in county jail or state prison for up to one year.
Recommended Reading: Can I Make A Police Report Over The Phone
What Can I Do If I Think Im Being Stalked
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Find a safe place to go if you are being followed or worry that you will be followed. Go to a police station, friends house, domestic violence shelter, fire station, or public area.
You can also take the following steps if you are being stalked:
- File a complaint with the police. Make sure to tell them about all threats and incidents.
- Get a restraining order. A restraining order requires the stalker to stay away from you and not contact you. You can learn how to get a restraining order from a domestic violence shelter, the police, or an attorney in your area.
- Write down every incident. Include the time, date, and other important information. If the incidents occurred online, take screenshots as records.
- Keep evidence such as videotapes, voicemail messages, photos of property damage, and letters.
- Get names of witnesses.
- Get help from domestic violence hotlines, domestic violence shelters, counseling services, and support groups. Put these numbers in your phone in case you need them.
- Tell people about the stalking, including the police, your employer, family, friends, and neighbors.
- Always have your phone with you so you can call for help.
- Consider changing your phone number . You can also ask your service provider about call blocking and other safety features.
- Secure your home with alarms, locks, and motion-sensitive lights.