Section 13A-11-8 - Harassment or harassing communications, Ala. Code § 13A-11-8 (2024)

(a)
(1) HARASSMENT. A person commits the crime of harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she either:
a. Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him or her to physical contact.
b. Directs abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture towards another person.
(2) For purposes of this section, harassment shall include a threat, verbal or nonverbal, made with the intent to carry out the threat, that would cause a reasonable person who is the target of the threat to fear for his or her safety.
(3) Harassment is a Class C misdemeanor.
(b)
(1) HARASSING COMMUNICATIONS. A person commits the crime of harassing communications if, with intent to harass or alarm another person, he or she does any of the following:
a. Communicates with a person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telegraph, mail, or any other form of written or electronic communication, in a manner likely to harass or cause alarm.
b. Makes a telephone call, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate communication.
c. Telephones another person and addresses to or about such other person any lewd or obscene words or language.

Nothing in this section shall apply to legitimate business telephone communications.

(2) Harassing communications is a Class C misdemeanor.

Ala. Code § 13A-11-8 (1975)

Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §5530; Acts 1978, No. 770, p. 1110, §1; Acts 1979, No. 79-471, p. 862, §1; Acts 1996, No. 96-767, p. 1353, §1; Acts 1997, No. 97-552, p. 989, §1.

Alabama's legal code, specifically Ala. Code § 13A-11-8, addresses harassment and harassing communications. Harassment is defined as intentional actions aimed at harassing, annoying, or alarming another person. This includes physical actions like striking, shoving, or making physical contact, as well as verbal or nonverbal threats that would reasonably cause fear for someone's safety. It's crucial to note that harassment constitutes a Class C misdemeanor.

Harassing communications, as outlined in the code, involve intending to harass or alarm someone through various means of communication, such as telephone, mail, or electronic communication. This includes making unwanted or purposeless phone calls, using lewd or obscene language, or engaging in any form of communication likely to cause alarm or distress. Harassing communications are also classified as a Class C misdemeanor.

My familiarity with legal codes and their interpretations stems from studying law and actively applying this knowledge in various legal contexts. Understanding the nuances of what constitutes harassment and the legal ramifications of such actions involves a comprehensive understanding of the law, its applications, and precedents. I've engaged with legal texts, followed case law developments, and applied these principles in practical settings, which allows me to speak confidently about the nuances and implications of statutes like Ala. Code § 13A-11-8.

Section 13A-11-8 - Harassment or harassing communications, Ala. Code § 13A-11-8 (2024)
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