What Constitutes Harassment?

Feeling unsafe is an emotion that many of us can relate to, but few of us want to experience. Understandably, the law harshly penalizes those found guilty of harassment through imprisonment and steep fines.

What you may not know is that Tennessee law defines harassment broadly, not always making it clear if harassment has occurred. In this article, our Tennessee harassment lawyer discusses what constitutes harassment in the Volunteer State.

Defining Harassment Under Tennessee Law

In Tennessee, harassment is defined as any repeated or continuous act that is directed toward a victim that causes emotional distress. The communication must be made with the intention of threatening, frightening, or intimidating the victim.

Communications that qualify as harassment include text messages, phone calls, or emails. The victim must not have consented to the acts. Furthermore, acts protected under the U.S. Constitution or that serve a legitimate purpose do not count as harassment.

Examples of Harassment

Common examples of harassment may involve any of the following acts:

• Contacting another person through calls, e-mails, texts, or direct messaging with the intention of alarming or annoying the individual
• Placing anonymous phone calls with the intent of disturbing the recipient
• Calling a person and telling them false information with the intent of causing emotional distress

Penalties for Harassment in TN

Under Tennessee law, harassment is charged as a class A misdemeanor. If convicted, you could be sentenced to prison for one year and fined $2,500.

In some situations, harassment may be charged as a felony. The two scenarios in which you may be charged with a felony for harassment are:

• If you commit a criminal offense and attempt to communicate with the victim or
• If you commit a criminal offense (in which the victim died) and you attempt to communicate with the victim’s family members.

Both above-referenced situations are a Class E Felony, with a potential imprisonment of six years and a maximum fine of $3,000.

How Can a Tennessee Harassment Lawyer Assist Me?

If you have been accused of harassment, you want an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can provide a strong defense against such allegations. Many people assume that if they are charged with a crime, it means they are guilty. This is not true. Being charged with a crime does not mean that you must plead guilty or take a plea bargain.

From the moment you are charged, you need dependable counsel advocating on your behalf. At Attorney C. Beasley, PLLC, our Tennessee harassment lawyer will investigate your matter. Our harassment lawyer will collect phone statements and electronic communications (text messages, emails, and chat services) to determine what evidence the state has against you.

A district attorney will work hard to convict you. That is why you need someone on your side who is willing to go to the same lengths to protect your freedom.

A Tennessee Harassment Lawyer Safeguarding Your Freedom

If you are facing criminal allegations of harassment, you want passionate counsel who will come to your defense. At Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, our criminal defense firm is dedicated to protecting what matters most: your freedom. To learn how our criminal defense lawyer can assist you, contact the office today by calling (615) 821-2230 or by completing our online contact form. We offer complimentary, no-risk consultations.