Alabama Harassment Laws

Statute

Code of Alabama § 13A-11-8

Definition of harassment

A person commits the crime of harassment if they do any of the following with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person:

• Strike, shove, kick, or otherwise touch or subject another person to physical contact. (§ 13A-11-8(a)(1)(a))
• Directs abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture towards another person. (§ 13A-11-8(a)(1)(b))
• 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. (§ 13A-11-8(a)(2))

Harassment is a Class C misdemeanor. (§ 13A-11-8(a)(3))

Harassing communications

A person who does the following with the intent to harass or alarm another person is guilty of the crime of harassing communications:

• 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. (§ 13A-11-8(b)(1)(a))
• Makes a telephone call with no purpose of legitimate communication (whether or not a conversation occurs). (§ 13A-11-8(b)(1)(b))
• Makes any lewd or obscene communications via telephone with another person. (§ 13A-11-8(b)(1)(c))

This section does not apply to legitimate business telephone communications.

Harassing communications is a Class C misdemeanor.

Related offenses

A person who commits the crime of harassment against a sports official and the harassment results from the official’s conduct while performing their duties is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. (§ 13A-11-144(b))

A person who intentionally or knowingly harasses, interferes with, or obstructs a police animal, search and rescue animal, or the animal’s handler, while the animal or handler performs their duties, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (§ 13A-11-261(a))

Penalties

A person convicted of a Class A misdemeanor faces the following penalties:

• Up to one year in county jail or hard labor for the county (§ 13A-5-7(a)(1)) and
• A fine of up to $6,000. (§ 13A-5-12(a)(1))

A person convicted of a Class B misdemeanor faces the following penalties:

• Up to six months in county jail or hard labor for the county (§ 13A-5-7(a)(2)) and
• A fine of up to $3,000. (§ 13A-5-12(a)(2))

A person convicted of a Class C misdemeanor faces the following penalties:

• Up to three months in county jail or hard labor for the county (§ 13A-5-7(a)(3)) and
• A fine of up to $500. (§ 13A-5-12(a)(3))