New NC laws, kids cyberbullying teachers outlawed

EMERY P. DALESIO
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Nearly two dozen new laws taking effect on Saturday include one that extends a North Carolina crime against cyberbullying to also protect school employees.

The law threatens criminal penalties against students who use a computer to intimidate or torment school employees. Cyberbullying is already illegal when children are targeted.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina said the law may be the first of its kind in the country, and the civil rights group says it intends a court challenge. ACLU-NC Policy Director Sarah Preston says students have written nasty things about teachers since time began, and that shouldn’t be illegal just because it’s online.

Another new law allows a judge to erase the nonviolent criminal record of an adult able to demonstrate a blameless life for 15 years.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)