Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Iowa Code Title XVI. Criminal Law and Procedure [Chs. 687-916] § 708.7. Harassment

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. a. A person commits harassment when, with intent to intimidate, annoy, or alarm another person, the person does any of the following:

(1) Communicates with another by telephone, telegraph, writing, or via electronic communication without legitimate purpose and in a manner likely to cause the other person annoyance or harm.

(2) Places a simulated explosive or simulated incendiary device in or near a building, vehicle, airplane, railroad engine or railroad car, or boat occupied by another person.

(3) Orders merchandise or services in the name of another, or to be delivered to another, without the other person's knowledge or consent.

(4) Reports or causes to be reported false information to a law enforcement authority implicating another in some criminal activity, knowing that the information is false, or reports the alleged occurrence of a criminal act, knowing the act did not occur.

(5) Disseminates, publishes, distributes, posts, or causes to be disseminated, published, distributed, or posted a photograph or film showing another person in a state of full or partial nudity or engaged in a sex act, knowing that the other person has not consented to the dissemination, publication, distribution, or posting.

b. A person commits harassment when the person, purposefully and without legitimate purpose, has personal contact with another person, with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or alarm that other person.

2. a. A person commits harassment in the first degree when the person commits harassment involving any of the following:

(1) A threat to commit a forcible felony.

(2) A violation of subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (5).

(3) Commits harassment and has previously been convicted of harassment three or more times under this section or any similar statute during the preceding ten years.

(4) Harassment that occurs against another person who is lawfully in a place of public accommodation as defined in section 216.2.

b. Harassment in the first degree is an aggravated misdemeanor.

3. a. A person commits harassment in the second degree when the person commits harassment involving a threat to commit bodily injury, or commits harassment and has previously been convicted of harassment two times under this section or any similar statute during the preceding ten years.

b. Harassment in the second degree is a serious misdemeanor.

4. a. Any other act of harassment is harassment in the third degree.

b. Harassment in the third degree is a simple misdemeanor.

5. For purposes of determining whether or not the person should register as a sex offender pursuant to the provisions of chapter 692A, the fact finder shall make a determination as provided in section 692A.126. However, the fact finder shall not make a determination as provided in section 692A.126 regarding a juvenile convicted of a violation of subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (5), and the juvenile shall not be required to register as a sex offender with regard to the violation.

6. The following do not constitute harassment under subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (5):

a. A photograph or film involving voluntary exposure by a person in public or commercial settings.

b. Disclosures made in the public interest, including but not limited to the reporting of unlawful conduct, disclosures by law enforcement, news reporting, legal proceeding disclosures, or medical treatment disclosures.

c. Disclosures by an interactive computer service of information provided by another information content provider, as those terms are defined in 47 U.S.C. § 230.

7. A person injured by a violation of subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), may bring a civil action against the person whose conduct violated subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4).

8. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

a. “Full or partial nudity” means the showing of any part of the human genitals or pubic area or buttocks, or any part of the nipple of the breast of a female, with less than fully opaque covering.

b. “Personal contact” means an encounter in which two or more people are in visual or physical proximity to each other. “Personal contact” does not require a physical touching or oral communication, although it may include these types of contacts.

c. “Photographs or films” means the making of any photograph, motion picture film, videotape, or any other recording or transmission of the image of a person.

d. “Sex act” means the same as defined in section 702.17.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Iowa Code Title XVI. Criminal Law and Procedure [Chs. 687-916] § 708.7. Harassment - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ia/title-xvi-criminal-law-and-procedure-chs-687-916/ia-code-sect-708-7/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard