Arkansas Law

§ 5-71-208. Harassment.

(a) A person commits the offense of harassment if, with purpose to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, without good cause, he:

       (1) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person, subjects him to offensive physical contact or attempts or threatens to do so; or

      (2) In a public place, directs obscene language or makes an obscene gesture to or at another person in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response; or

      (3) Follows a person in or about a public place; or

      (4) In a public place repeatedly insults, taunts, or challenges another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response; or

      (5) Engages in conduct or repeatedly commits acts that alarm or seriously annoy another person and that serve no legitimate purpose; or

      (6) Places the person under surveillance by remaining present outside his or her school, place of employment, vehicle, other place occupied by the person, or residence, other than the residence of the defendant, for no purpose other than to harass, alarm, or annoy.

 (b) Harassment is a Class A misdemeanor.

(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section whenever the actor is a law enforcement officer, licensed private investigator, attorney, process server, licensed bail bondsman, or a store detective acting within the reasonable scope of his duty while conducting surveillance on an official work assignment.

(d)(1) A judicial officer, upon pretrial release of the defendant, shall enter a no contact order in writing consistent with Rules 9.3 and 9.4 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure and shall give notice to the defendant of penalties contained in Rule 9.5 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure.

     (2) This no contact order shall remain in effect during the pendency of any appeal of a conviction under this section.

     (3) The judicial officer or prosecuting attorney shall provide a copy of this no contact order to the victim and arresting agency without unnecessary delay.

 (e) If the judicial officer has reason to believe that mental disease or defect of the defendant will or has become an issue in the cause, the judicial officer shall enter such orders as are consistent with § 5-2-305.

History. Acts 1975, No. 280, § 2909; 1985, No. 711, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-2909; Acts 1993, No. 379, § 5; 1993, No. 388, § 5; 1995, No. 1302, § 3.