SPRINGFIELD – Legislation clearly defining harassment via the Internet and providing associated penalties for offenders is currently being advanced in the General Assembly by State Representative Sid Mathias (R-Arlington Heights).

House Bill 4755 codifies the offense of harassment by use of the Internet and prohibits various forms of obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent communications with the intent to offend as well as any abusive, threatening, or harassing communications by use of the Internet. The bill unanimously passed the Judiciary II – Criminal Law Committee on March 6 and has been referred to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

“We need to protect people, especially children, from harassment over the Internet by those who would do them harm,” Representative Mathias said. “A young girl in Missouri committed suicide in 2006 after a period of prolonged harassment through her MySpace page online. Unfortunately, those responsible for the cruel emotional abuse of this girl were not brought to justice because there was no applicable state law covering harassment via the Internet. I intend to ensure that never happens in Illinois.”

Representative Mathias is proposing the change because state law does not currently recognize Internet harassment that is intended to be abusive, threatening, or harassing.

If enacted, penalties would include up to 6 months in jail for first offense, up to 1 year in jail for second offense, and 1-3 years incarceration for the third and any subsequent offense.

“Telephone harassment is already considered a crime,” Representative Mathias added. “Internet harassment should be punishable in the same way. If someone is being harassed or threatened through use of the Internet, they should have the comfort of knowing that the law is there to protect them.”

Representative Mathias can be contacted through his District Office located at 4256 N. Arlington Heights Rd.Arlington Heights or by calling (847) 222-0061.