January 10th, 2019: When it comes to bullying, be it on- or offline, victims and parents of victims often wonder if the consequences for the bullies are adequate to the potential damage of the bullying. Bullying can cause severe mental health problems including anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders, and can even lead to suicide. The bullies can thus potentially inflict severe damage to their victims and even their death.

However, the laws have not fully caught up with the public awareness of the often catastrophic consequences of bullying. Anti-bullying laws are still very heterogeneous across the globe and even within the same country. For example, in the United States, while cyberbullying has become a crime in Michigan effective March 2019 (source), a mother in Missouri has started a petition to change anti-bullying laws in her state (source). Amy Doherty of St. Peters wants the law changed after witnessing the bullying her daughter has to endure every day in school. In a 45 seconds video that Amy Doherty got a hold of and that she posted on social media (shown below), Amy’s 15 years old daughter is called names and insulted by a group of teenagers.

Amy Doherty has talked to the school administration, but unfortunately, their hands are tied. They explained to Amy that the maximum they can do is suspend the girls involved in the bullying. Amy Doherty wants a more severe punishment because she believes that it could be a deterrent and help prevent bullying. She said “My main thing is worse consequences. If these bullies know that they’re gonna get, maybe it’ll make them stop. They’ll be thinking, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do this, because I’ll be expelled’.”

Amy’s family has been already directly touched by bullying in a devastating way. The daughter of Amy’s partner took her own life in 2007 after being bullied relentlessly in school. Amy is determined to do all that she can to prevent that to happen to her family again and other families for that matter.

Meanwhile, in Michigan cyberbullying, a type of bullying that is carried out on social media platforms, via text and emails will become a crime effective March 2019.  Indeed, Gov. Rick Snyder, signed into law a bill that defines cyberbullying as a misdemeanor. The law states cyberbullying is punishable by 93 days in jail and a $500 fine. If a “pattern of repeated harassment” is found, the perpetrators can face up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. If cyberbullying is found to cause the death of the victim, then the punishment is up to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The signing of the bill into law in Michigan was the pushed forward following the death in 2015 of a 13 years old girl who was cyberbullied on Facebook by classmates. Governor Snyder said “Cyberbullying can cause just as much trauma as traditional bullying so it’s important that it be considered a crime. With this bill, we are sending a message that bullying of any kind is not tolerated in Michigan.”