Many are shocked to learn that even seemingly harmless actions from neighbors could result in criminal harassment charges against them – with serious potential repercussions for conviction including jail time.
However, an experienced Vaughan criminal defense lawyer could work towards having these charges reduced оr dropped altogether. To learn more, reach out to your local law firm now for a consultation appointment.
Know Your Rights
Harassment should never be taken lightly. Whether you have experienced sexual harassment or workplace discrimination, it’s essential that you understand your rights as a victim and how best to pursue legal action if necessary. A harassment lawyer can guide this process and assess if your case qualifies for compensation.
Arguably, harassment occurs when one individual engages in alarming conduct that disturbs or alarms another individual. Such conduct could include anonymous calls at inconvenient hours, offensive language, and other actions designed to cause discomfort and disturbance.
Depending upon the nature of harassment, perpetrators may face criminal or civil liability for violations. Examples of criminal harassment include threats, stalking, and cyberbullying; while for civil harassment claims it must be proven that the behavior was intentionally harmful or abusive.
Harassment in the workplace is typically committed by fellow coworkers or supervisors. To hold your employer liable, you’ll need to prove that their knowledge of this harassment was severe and pervasive – as well as any steps taken or not taken to stop it.
If you have been subjected to workplace harassment, you can file a formal complaint with either your employer’s human resources department or with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO). A Toronto harassment lawyer can provide invaluable assistance in filing the appropriate claim and seeking appropriate remedies.
Hire a Lawyer
Harassment comes in many forms, from phone calls and physical assault to theft or alteration of photographs with the aim of emotionally distressing the target, or targeting specific races, religions, age groups, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disabilities. Such acts may be prosecuted as either misdemeanor or felony depending on the severity of the incident and perpetrator’s intent.
Workplace harassment often takes the form of inappropriate jokes, threats, and bullying behavior from co-workers; when this behavior comes from upper management it could even fall under civil rights law liability for their negligence. Harassment also occurs outside the workplace environment such as housing or public spaces.
An experienced attorney is essential in building your case as quickly as possible after an incident occurs. An attorney will help collect evidence, document all incidents, and interview witnesses that support your claim – this includes emails, texts, and social media messages from defendants that can be admitted into court as proof through chain оf custody verification processes. The more documentation there іs supporting your claim, the stronger will be your case against them. The Law Society оf Ontario can help you find a qualified lawyer in your area.
Document the Incident
An effective harassment lawyer will help you document all incidents of harassing behavior that take place, which is essential in building your case. Take note of the date, time, location, and any participants involved if an incident takes place, and write down exactly what occurred and who was involved – this information could come in handy later if legal action needs to be brought against an employer or harasser.
Harassment may take various forms, from subtle teasing and offhand comments tо severe оr persistent behavior that creates an offensive оr hostile work environment, you may be eligible to file a civil suit against your harasser in Ontario. An experienced harassment lawyer knows how best to manage such cases.
First, report the harassment to your company’s Human Resources department. If they’re unable to address it, contact the Human Rights Tribunal оf Ontario (HRTO), who will conduct their own investigation and decide if your employer violated the Human Rights Code оf Ontario. Additionally, they’ll give you a Notice оf Right tо Sue letter that allows you to sue them directly.
Keep harassment charges in perspective: they can result in fines and jail time, and affect employment and housing applications, as well as professional licenses. Having an experienced Ontario harassment lawyer оn your side will increase your odds оf securing an effective outcome in court.
Represent Yourself
If you don’t have access to legal representation, the police may suggest alternative solutions like a peace bond or restraining order as possible legal solutions. They can also suggest safety measures like getting an unlisted telephone number and removing personal details from items you discard before throwing them away, along with asking friends to keep records of any unwanted contacts and notify you if any come their way.
Criminal harassment charges could be filed against those harassing you if their behavior causes you to fear for your own personal safety without legitimate purpose. Criminal harassment was created as a specific offense in 1993 – before then people being stalked could be charged with crimes such as trespassing at night or loitering.
If someone is found guilty of criminal harassment, they could face jail time (up to 10 years in extreme cases) or probation. You have the option to submit a victim impact statement before sentencing to give details on how the criminal behavior has impacted you – making your voice heard before sentencing occurs is also a very powerful and important part of a court case. Anyone found guilty will also be expected to adhere to any court orders that have been set out as conditions for their probationary period.
