Most people don’t realize how broad Tennessee’s harassment laws actually are. Seriously. You don’t have to punch someone or send death threats to get charged. A string of annoying text messages can do it. A Facebook post. Even a phone call made at the wrong time.
Tennessee takes harassment seriously. The penalties can include jail time and fines that hit hard. So whether you’re trying to protect yourself from someone else’s behavior, or you just want to make sure you’re staying on the right side of the law, this guide is for you.
What Is Harassment in Tennessee?
Harassment in Tennessee means intentionally contacting someone in a way that causes them emotional distress, fear, or alarm. That’s the simple version. <br>
The legal version comes from Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) Section 39-17-308. That’s the main law covering harassment in the state. It applies to phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, and even face-to-face communication.
Here’s the key word: intent. You have to mean to harass, alarm, frighten, or annoy the person. Accidentally sending an awkward message isn’t harassment. Sending fifty messages a day after being told to stop? That’s a different story.
Basic Harassment Laws in Tennessee
Sending Threatening or Offensive Messages
This one’s pretty clear. You cannot send a message that threatens someone. But it goes further than just direct threats.
Under T.C.A. 39-17-308(a)(1), it’s illegal to communicate a threat where you intend to cause fear, and where a normal person would read it the same way. Wondering if a vague message counts? If a reasonable person would feel threatened by it, the answer is probably yes.
Obscene, offensive, or alarming messages also qualify. If you’re sending something with the purpose of disturbing someone, you can be charged even without a direct threat.
Unwanted Repeated Contact
Okay, this one is important. You don’t need to say anything threatening at all.
Under T.C.A. 39-17-308(a)(2), it’s illegal to contact someone repeatedly with the intent to annoy, offend, alarm, or frighten them. This includes phone calls, texts, emails, and showing up somewhere uninvited. The contact doesn’t need to be aggressive. It just needs to be persistent and unwanted.
Think of it like this: if someone tells you to stop contacting them, continuing to do so is a red flag. Courts look at whether the contact had a “legitimate purpose.” A debt collector calling about an unpaid bill is different from an ex-partner calling 20 times a day after being asked to stop.
Spreading False Information to Cause Distress
Here’s one that surprises people. Under T.C.A. 39-17-308(a)(3), it’s illegal to tell someone that their family member or friend was hurt or killed when you know that’s not true.
If you’re doing that to mess with someone’s emotions, that’s harassment. Simple as that.
Sending Threatening Images
Pretty straightforward. It’s illegal to send an image to someone without a legitimate purpose, if you intend for that image to threaten them and a reasonable person would see it as a threat.
This includes photos, graphics, and screenshots sent through any electronic means.
The 2025 Law Change You Need to Know About
Hold on, this part is important. Tennessee updated its harassment law in 2025 with Senate Bill 0028.
Before 2025, the harassment law mainly covered written, electronic, and phone-based communication. The 2025 update expanded it. Now, harassment that happens face-to-face, in person, also falls under the same law.
That means if someone confronts you in person in a threatening, alarming, or intentionally distressing way, that’s criminal harassment in Tennessee. The law caught up with real-world behavior. Personally, I think that change makes a lot of sense.
Special Rules for People Already Convicted
Wait, it gets more serious. If you’ve already been convicted of a crime, there are extra rules.
Under T.C.A. 39-17-308(b), if you’re incarcerated, on probation, on parole, or in a diversion program and you contact the victim of your original crime in a threatening or harassing way, that’s a separate offense. And it’s a felony.
This applies even if the contact happens in person. You cannot use a third party to do it either.
Harassment vs. Stalking in Tennessee
Confused about the difference between harassment and stalking? Let me break it down.
Harassment is typically a single offense or a pattern of behavior. Stalking, covered under T.C.A. 39-17-315, involves a repeated course of conduct that causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, or intimidated. Stalking is generally more serious and can carry heavier penalties.
Here’s the overlap: repeated harassment can become stalking. If your harassing behavior forms a pattern that makes someone fear for their safety, you could face stalking charges instead of, or in addition to, harassment charges.
Penalties and Consequences
Let’s talk about what actually happens if you’re charged. Most people don’t realize how steep the consequences are.
A standard harassment conviction under T.C.A. 39-17-308(a) is a Class A misdemeanor. That means up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. That’s not a slap on the wrist.
Now here’s where it gets more serious. If you’ve previously been convicted of a crime and you harass the same victim, the charge jumps to a Class E felony. That carries a prison sentence of one to six years.
If the harassment is tied to stalking behavior, you could face a Class C felony charge. That’s three to fifteen years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Less severe than the most serious crimes, but still no joke.
For minors convicted of harassment by bullying or cyberbullying, there’s an added penalty. As of 2025, their driver’s license can be suspended for one full year. That’s a direct, real-world consequence for young people who harass others online or in person.
Malicious Harassment: Civil Consequences Too
Most people only think about criminal charges. But Tennessee also has a civil cause of action for malicious harassment under T.C.A. 4-21-701.
This applies when someone targets another person because of their race, color, religion, ancestry, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. In those cases, the victim can sue the harasser in civil court.
If you lose a civil malicious harassment case, you can be ordered to pay damages for emotional distress, legal fees, court costs, and punitive damages. That’s money out of your pocket on top of any criminal penalties.
Orders of Protection
Victims of harassment in Tennessee can go to court and ask for an order of protection. Think of it like a legal wall between you and the person harassing you.
An order of protection is a court order that restricts contact from the harasser. Violating an order of protection is itself a crime. Courts take violations seriously, especially when there’s a pattern of behavior.
If you’re experiencing harassment and you feel unsafe, an order of protection is one of the strongest tools available to you.
Cyberbullying and School-Related Harassment
You’re not alone if you’re confused about how these laws apply to kids online. It’s more common than you think.
Tennessee applies its harassment law to cyberbullying. That means students who harass others through social media, text messages, email, or any electronic means can face criminal charges in addition to school discipline.
Schools are also required to have anti-bullying policies. Students who are found to have engaged in cyberbullying can face suspension, expulsion, and now, as of 2025, the loss of their driver’s license for a year.
How to Report Harassment in Tennessee
If you’re being harassed, here’s what you can do. Start by documenting everything. Save texts, emails, voicemails, and screenshots. Write down dates, times, and what happened. This evidence matters.
You can file a police report with your local law enforcement agency. Bring your documentation. Officers can investigate and, if there’s enough evidence, refer the case for prosecution.
You can also go to your local general sessions court to apply for an order of protection. You don’t need a lawyer to apply, though having one helps.
If the situation is urgent and you feel in immediate danger, call 911. Don’t wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does harassment have to happen online to be illegal in Tennessee? No. As of 2025, harassment can happen in person, face-to-face, and still be a criminal offense under T.C.A. 39-17-308.
Can I be charged with harassment if I didn’t make a direct threat? Yes. Repeatedly contacting someone with the intent to annoy or frighten them is enough, even without a direct threat.
What’s the difference between harassment and stalking in Tennessee? Stalking involves a repeated course of conduct that causes someone to fear for their safety. It often carries heavier penalties than basic harassment.
Can minors be charged with harassment in Tennessee? Yes. Minors can be adjudicated delinquent for harassment. Starting in 2025, a finding of delinquency for bullying or cyberbullying also results in a one-year driver’s license suspension.
What should I do if someone is harassing me? Document everything, file a police report, and consider applying for an order of protection at your local general sessions court.
Can I be sued civilly for harassment in Tennessee? Yes. If the harassment is motivated by race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics, the victim can sue you for damages under the malicious harassment statute.
Is it harassment if I contact someone I used to date who hasn’t told me to stop? Possibly. If the contact is frequent, unwanted, and causes them distress, it may qualify as harassment regardless of whether they’ve explicitly said stop.
Final Thoughts
Now you know the basics. Tennessee’s harassment laws are broad, and the 2025 updates made them even stronger. Face-to-face harassment, cyberbullying, threatening messages, and repeated unwanted contact can all lead to criminal charges.
If you’re being harassed, take it seriously and report it. If you’re unsure whether your own behavior crosses a line, ask yourself: would a reasonable person feel threatened or alarmed by this? If the answer is maybe, stop and think twice.
Stay informed, stay safe, and when in doubt, talk to a licensed Tennessee attorney.
