What is the legal definition of harassment in Maine?
For the purpose of getting a protection from harassment order, Maine law defines “harassment” as:
- three or more acts of intimidation, confrontation, physical force, or threat of physical force that are:
- directed against any person, family, or business;
- made with the intention of causing fear, intimidation, or damage to property; and
- actually causes fear, intimidation, or damage to property; or
- when the harasser commits a single act or a course of conduct that violates one of the following laws:
- stalking
- assault
- aggravated assault
- criminal threatening
- terrorizing
- reckless conduct
- gross sexual assault
- sexual abuse of minors
- unlawful sexual contact
- visual sexual aggression against a child
- sexual misconduct with a child under age 14
- solicitation of a child to commit a prohibited act
- solicitation of a child to engage in prostitution
- unlawful sexual touching
- prohibited contact with a minor
- sexual exploitation of a minor
- dissemination of sexually explicit material
- kidnapping
- criminal restraint
- criminal restraint by parent
- harassment
- harassment by telephone or electonic communication device
- unauthorized dissemination of certain private images
- incest
- arson
- violation of privacy
- criminal mischief
- aggravated criminal mischief
- aiding or soliciting suicide
- murder
- felony murder
- manslaughter
- violation of your constitutional rights
- sex trafficking
- aggravated sex trafficking or
- interfering with, oppressing or threatening any other person.1
If you are being harassed by a current or former intimate partner, relative, or spouse, you may be eligible for a protection from abuse order. Please see our Protection from Abuse Orders page for more information.