Many states punish first-time harassment offenses as misdemeanors, but punish subsequent harassment convictions as felonies. In addition to jail time and fines, penalties for harassment can include court-ordered psychological counseling.

In simple terms, harassment is any action taken by one person with the express purpose of annoying or alarming another person. As provided in New York Penal Law §240.26, harassment in the second degree may involve: Any physical conduct intended to annoy another person. Any following of a person in a public place.

You can file a claim with the Division of Human Rights within one year of an episode of sexual harassment. However, you need not file a charge with the Division of Human Rights, and in some cases, it is better to simply pursue your lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court with the help of an attorney.

The civil harassment laws say “harassment” is: Unlawful violence, like assault or battery or stalking, OR. A credible threat of violence, AND. The violence or threats seriously scare, annoy, or harass someone and there is no valid reason for it.

To file a complaint: Visit the Division’s website, at WWW.DHR.NY.GOV, and download a complaint form. Completed complaints should be signed before a notary public and returned to the Division by email, fax, postal mail or in person.

Start by telling the person that you don’t like the behavior and asking them to stop. If the harassment doesn’t let up, take measures such as involving the police and increasing your security. In some circumstances, you might need to file for a restraining order to keep your harasser away.

The definition of sexual harassment in New York is similar to the federal definition. Sexual harassment involves any unwelcome sexual conduct that creates a hostile work environment or is used as a basis for making employment decisions. The harassment may be physical, verbal or visual.

New York State Penal Law Definitions. New York State Penal Law contains the following legal provisions relating to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. These definitions are provided for educational and awareness purposes only.

In New York, criminal law can be thought of as including the penal law, the criminal procedure law, certain parts of the vehicle and traffic law, and various local regulations such as the administrative code. For the most part, if you’re researching a criminal activity in New York, the penal law is where you should start.

Harassment prevention training is an effective means of reducing and preventing claims, and is a vital element of your company’s overall employee education program. Training programs can be administered by an outsourced training specialist, or created and implemented in-house.