Bullying

It’s devastating to discover that your child is a victim of bullying behavior. Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

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. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

While no federal law addresses bullying, when bullying overlaps with discriminatory harassment based on race, national origin, color, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), age, disability, or religion, federally-funded schools (including colleges and universities) have an obligation to resolve harassment on these bases. Pennsylvania and New Jersey have specific state anti-bullying laws that address bullying. In Pennsylvania, resources include  https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/bullying/Pages/default.aspx and in New Jersey, specific laws address harassment, intimidation, and bullying (“HIB”). I can help you to protect your child and assert your child’s rights.