{"id":371330,"date":"2024-10-21T09:10:34","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T14:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/alabama-law\/alabama-harassment-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-05-15T13:28:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T18:28:36","slug":"alabama-harassment-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/alabama-law\/alabama-harassment-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Harassment Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alabama Harassment Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Harassment generally involves touching or threatening someone with the intent to harass, annoy, or otherwise alarm them. It also encompasses abusive language and obscene gestures towards another person. In Alabama, harassment is a Class C misdemeanor.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

The crime of harassment encompasses many different types of behavior. However, actions viewed as harassment in one state may vastly differ from those in another state.<\/p>\r\n

Harassment also often overlaps with other areas of law, such as domestic violence<\/a> and disorderly conduct. Note that sexual harassment<\/a> is a form of sex discrimination under federal law.<\/p>\r\n

This article summarizes Alabama\u2019s harassment laws and criminal penalties. For more information, visit FindLaw\u2019s Harassment<\/a> overview article.<\/p>\r\n

Alabama Harassment Statutes: Overview<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The table below provides an overview of Alabama\u2019s harassment laws.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statute<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Code of Alabama \u00a7 13A-11-8<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Definition of harassment<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

A person commits the crime of harassment if they do any of the following with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person:<\/p>\r\n

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  • Strike, shove, kick, or otherwise touch or subject another person to physical contact. (\u00a7 13A-11-8(a)(1)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • Directs abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture towards another person. (\u00a7 13A-11-8(a)(1)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • Makes a threat (verbal or nonverbal) with the intent to carry it out that would cause a reasonable person targeted by the threat to fear for their own safety. (\u00a7 13A-11-8(a)(2))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Harassment is a Class C misdemeanor. (\u00a7 13A-11-8(a)(3))<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Harassing communications<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

A person who does the following with the intent to harass or alarm another person is guilty of the crime of harassing communications:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Communicates with a person by telephone, telegraph, mail, or any other form of written or electronic communication, anonymously or otherwise, in a manner likely to harass or cause alarm. (\u00a7 13A-11-8(b)(1)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • Makes a telephone call with no purpose of legitimate communication (whether or not a conversation occurs). (\u00a7 13A-11-8(b)(1)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • Makes any lewd or obscene communications via telephone with another person. (\u00a7 13A-11-8(b)(1)(c))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    This section does not apply to legitimate business telephone communications.<\/p>\r\n

    Harassing communications is a Class C misdemeanor.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Related offenses<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

A person who commits the crime of harassment against a sports official and the harassment results from the official\u2019s conduct while performing their duties is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. (\u00a7 13A-11-144(b))<\/p>\r\n

A person who intentionally or knowingly harasses, interferes with, or obstructs a police animal, search and rescue animal, or the animal\u2019s handler, while the animal or handler performs their duties, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (\u00a7 13A-11-261(a))<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Penalties<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

A person convicted of a Class A misdemeanor faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n