Are You Being Harassed?

This question is very difficult to accurately answer.

In the eyes of the law it goes beyond simply knowing if your life is being affected by the alleged harassers actions. Harassment is more than that to law enforcement and courts. It isn't just how it's affecting you, but, it is if the alleged harasser is actually breaking any laws, and are on their own property.

This is precisely what makes harassment a sticky matter in terms of neighbors harassing each other.

For example, our harasser has affected our lives in many ways. She would sit in her patio door and watch us every time we were outside, whether it be to throw the ball for the dog or have drinks outside with friends, she was watching. If it was drinks with friends she would come outside and get as close as she could to eavesdrop on conversation but still be in her yard. She would "hide" behind trees and watch/spy/eavesdrop (even though we all saw her). This isn't criminal, this falls under the "it sucks and is weird, but it's not illegal" category. It did, however, provide some good laughs at her expense between a few of us every now and then while she consistently and predicitably made a bigger and bigger fool of herself.

If you are "lucky" enough to actually be the victim of a crime, such as an assault, threats, vandalism or some such thing, then, and only then, do you really have a fighting chance of pursuing legal action and legal protection from this person/these people.

In a situation like that, you have your work done for you, because the criminal courts will also deal with the harasser pending criminal charges for whatever was done, and, after that is completed you simply go to civil trial bringing with you the record of the crime as your evidence.

But that is only if you choose to go that route, as quite often in criminal court, in the case of an assault or threats, a no contact or restraining order will be issued as part of the criminal sentence. The only reason you may want to go to civil trial after that is if you feel the criminal courts order isn't strong enough or long enough.