Harassment 2C:33-4
Except as provided in subsection e., a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if, with purpose to harass another, he:
a.Makes, or causes to be made, a communication or communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm;
b.Subjects another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatens to do so; or
c.Engages in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person.
A communication under subsection a. may be deemed to have been made either at the place where it originated or at the place where it was received.
d.(Deleted by amendment, P.L.2001, c.443).
e.A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, in committing an offense under this section, he was serving a term of imprisonment or was on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this State, any other state or the United States.
Harassment Charges explained
Most harassment cases in New Jersey will result in an individual being charged with a petty disorderly persons offense. This offense carries fines of up to $500 and a jail sentence of 30 days. If the person is on parole or probation, the offense will be classified as a fourth degree offense which carries heavier penalties including up to eighteen months in jail. Verbal and physical harassment are both taken very seriously. Some ways in which a person can be charged with verbal harassment are speaking to another using foul language, communicating at inconvenient hours of the day or verbally causing annoyance or alarm to another. An individual can be charged with physical harassment if they offensively touch another person via shoving, kicking, striking or even threatening to do so.
