Arizona Cyberbullying Student Protections

What Constitutes Cyberbullying Involving Students?

What are the protections for students regarding cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is more difficult in ways of protection because there needs to be a consideration of where it happened. If the bullying occurred on school property, on school premises, or outside of school; if the cyberbullying occurred on school property, at a school event, on a school computer, or anything having to do with school property or involvement in the school, the students are on the premises.

If they’re using the school’s network or computer, the anti-bullying policy mandated by state law would consider it is cyberbullying.

Report Student Cyberbullying to the School

So therefore, you would report to the school, which would be confidential. The school would then have policies and procedures to protect that victim from bullying, cyberbullying, or future cyberbullying.

Again, the school would handle it if it’s in the school, on the school computer, network, or at events within its premises.

One would report it to the school; it would be confidential, and the school would handle it with their policies and procedures, which you can find in your student handbook or parent handbook.

Cyberbullying can also be a little bit more challenging to define. It can be any bullying I’ve discussed in my previous blogs, which you can check out. A lot of times, it’s going to be more social or emotional.

And what I mean by that is cyberbullying can be anything from spreading rumors or sharing embarrassing information. It can also be harassing as well if the contact is unwanted, it’s repeated over a period, and it’s harmful.

Again, if it’s on the school premises, as we discussed, you would report it to the school, where the policies and procedures would be in place.

It gets a bit more complex when it does not involve school property, events, or outside school.  However, these are students who go to the same school. An example of this that the school’s policy would not cover is if you were at home and it had to do with maybe social media. You were posting, like I said, illicit or harmful information or spreading rumors that might be about school, but you’re not actually on the premises. That’s when it gets more challenging.

Learn Arizona Students’ Rights on School Cyberbullying

And what I mean by that is cyberbullying can be anything from spreading rumors or sharing embarrassing information.

It can also be harassing if the contact is unwanted, repeated over a period, and harmful. Again, if it’s on the school premises like we talked about, you would simply report it to the school, and the policies and procedures would be in place.

Arizona Students Get Protection from School Cyberbullying 

So, what protection is there for those victims?

Arizona has criminal statutes codified that are called harassment. And cyberbullying can rise to the level of harassment.

If that rises to that level, then instead of protection from the school, you would get protection from your local police department. You would report it that way. And then you would turn over any information, and they would conduct their investigation.

Arizona State Laws: Cyberbullying a Criminal Offense 

And if they felt like it rose to the level, they could bring legal proceedings against the alleged person performing the cyberbullying, which they would consider harassment.

Again, to verify, if it’s in the school setting, you would have school protections with their policies and procedures outlined in state law that require them to provide these things for students who are victims of cyberbullying.

But suppose it’s outside the school and has nothing to do with the school, computer, or network, and it’s separate from the school. Then your protections would lie with actual criminal statutes, and you would need to report it to your local police department, and then they would investigate.

Cyberbullying Student Protections in Arizona

In Arizona, cyberbullying is considered a form of bullying and is punishable under state law. The 2009 anti-bullying law expanded the definition of bullying to include cyberbullying. It also requires schools to report bullying incidents to the Arizona Department of Education. This approach has effectively reduced the incidence of cyberbullying in Arizona schools.

However, students are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any cyberbullying incidents to the school. The school will then investigate the incident and take the necessary disciplinary action. There’s no doubt that incidents of cyberbullying have accelerated in recent years. It is due to the rise of social media and other online platforms. Students need to be aware of the dangers of cyberbullying and how to report it.

Contact Arizona Student Bullying Attorney Today for Assistance

As you can see, student bullying is a severe problem in Arizona school districts. If your child has been the victim of bullying, you should contact an experienced student bullying attorney today. The attorney will review your case and advise you of your legal options. A lawyer can also help you file a complaint with the school and the Arizona Department of Education.

At Chelle Law, we have successfully represented many students who have been the victims of bullying. We will aggressively fight for your child’s rights and ensure they receive the justice they deserve.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

What If My Child is Being Bullied at School in Arizona?

As highlighted above, School bullying can negatively impact a child’s life. You should take immediate action if you believe they are being bullied. Some of the things you can do to help them include:

Encourage them to Speak-Up

If your child is getting bullied, you should encourage and advise them to speak up. It will help them get the support they need to deal with the situation. It would be best if you also told them that it’s not their fault and you are there for them.

Report The Incident to The School

Once you’re sure your child is being bullied, especially if they acquire injuries, report the incident to the school. In Arizona, the law requires schools to have policies to deal with bullying. The school should also notify you of the steps to address the issue.

Speak To an Arizona Bullying Attorney

You can also speak or seek advice from an experienced Arizona bullying attorney. They will help you understand your options and take the necessary legal action. Speaking with an attorney should be your last resort, as it may escalate the situation.

Arizona Anti-Bullying Required School Policies

Arizona recognizes the seriousness of bullying and has established laws to address the problem.

The first law was enacted in 2006, requiring all schools to have policies to deal with bullying. The second law was enacted in 2009 and expanded the definition of bullying to include cyberbullying. It also required schools to report bullying incidents to the Arizona Department of Education.

The 2009 law also created the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools within the Arizona Department of Education. The office is responsible for providing school support and resources on bullying prevention. It also investigates complaints of bullying and enforces the state’s anti-bullying laws.

Arizona Student Defense Attorney | Protecting Student’s Rights

At just 8.1%, Asian Americans saw the lowest admission rate of any racial group into Harvard between 1995 and 2013. This fact, among others, has encouraged some Asian-American students to file a lawsuit against the University, alleging racial bias in their admissions practices. 

They first brought the case in 2018, and Federal District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled in Harvard’s favor in October 2019. In 2020, the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the original decision. However, in January 2022, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. 

The students, in this case, are exercising their right to an attorney. In their particular case, the students are the plaintiff, and Harvard University is the defendant. However, one may also reverse the roles, and a student may require a defense attorney. 

Today, we will examine why a student in Arizona may require a defense attorney and what Chelle Law can do about helping to get them that representation. 

Physical Attack: Protecting Against Criminal Charges

There is no question that teachers face a tough job. However, it’s also the case that many students in our schools today go through many challenging issues at home. We mustn’t breeze past this; it is always best when those students can receive the help they need before problems spill over into the classroom. That said, students accused of physically attacking a teacher or other school employee need to get a defense attorney immediately. 

Last year, the Arizona legislature revised a statute in the law on a physical attack on a teacher or school employee. They changed the law to treat such an attack as a Class 3 misdemeanor. 

Thus, a student could receive charges that land them in juvenile detention. Worse, depending on their age at the time of the offense, this event could have a lasting impact on their ability to find work and function normally in the world. It is a severe matter that people need to treat as such. 

Our team of seasoned lawyers can provide the criminal defense that a student may require if someone accuses them of a crime against a teacher. They must receive the legal protection needed to keep themselves safe from the consequences that could befall them if convicted of this charge. Putting up a spirited defense against a serious charge is imperative.

Cyberbullying: How a Defense Attorney Can Help

Bullying is seen in increasingly harsh light in the school system these days. Not only is in-person bullying a potential problem among students in a school system, but it is also necessary to be aware that cyberbullying is also a severe issue.

Cyberbullying is an extensive category of bullying that can include many different actions. Stopbullying.gov defines what cyberbullying looks like: 

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else, causing embarrassment or humiliation.

This definition is broad and lengthy, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the state law covers all aspects of bullying detailed within. Each state has varying definitions of cyberbullying from a legal perspective, and what qualifies in one state may not be in another. Add to that that people can misunderstand certain actions, and you can see how someone may wrongfully accuse a student of criminal cyberbullying.

Fortunately, attorneys at Chelle Law have extensive training and experience in combatting cyberbullying claims in court. Our team knows the laws in Arizona, and we will put up a fierce defense for our clients.

No student deserves to have their reputation tarnished by false accusations lobbed at them by another. We work diligently to put a stop to this immediately.