Legal Resources: Bullying and New Jersey Law
Under New Jersey law, a person is protected from harassment on the basis of their race, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, familial status or sex. Moreover, each school district is required to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying (“HIB”).
As a parent, knowing your legal rights and how to exercise them is important. Hiring a lawyer, however, can be expensive and is not an option for many people. Thankfully, several free resources are available on the New Jersey Department of Education’s website, including:
- “Guidance for Parents on the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act”: This comprehensive guide provides an overview of HIB procedures, such as: (i) the various steps of an HIB complaint and investigation; (ii) filing a complaint with the Division of Civil Rights or the Superior Court; (iii) contacting the County Office of Education; and (iv) appeals to state agencies and the Appellate Court.
- HIB Online Tutorials: These helpful tutorials provide a general overview of New Jersey’s anti-bullying and anti-discrimination laws and information on the types of proceedings available under each.
Regardless of what path a bullying complaint may take, the best practice is to keep good records of the bullying and communications with officials.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. This document is provided by P. Taylor Legal, PLLC for information purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice.