What evidence is needed to convict someone of verbal abuse?

Question

i have been verbally abused by my friend boyfriend and his frends because i have advised her to steer slear of him. i have been sent text messages with many explitives in them directed towards me. i have kept all the texts and its a well known fact that i am not liked by my harassers. Do i have enough proof to prosecute according to the law? I live in maryland, however i assume most state laws on veral abuse will be very similar.

Answer 1

Perhaps a recording try recording the person or persons.

Answer 2

Witnesses would be good, recorded audio even better. With what you have you might be able to get a restraining order. Don't expect to get any money out of it either. in fact lawyers and court costs are expensive.  

Answer 3

I personally have never heard of criminal law concerning 'verbal abuse', as being something you can charge someone with. And, a private person does not prosecute any crime.. law enforcement/ district attorney is the only ones who can prosecute, if they feel it is warranted.

Harrassing someone can be charged.. IF they are contacting you against your involvement, and the person has been told to leave you alone. I am not sure that would apply if you are involved in a 2 way dispute, where you may be responding or such.

It also depends on what is being said to you, and if the comments involve some kind of threat. That could be reported, but it is also borderline.

If someone just DOES NOT LIKE YOU and is using what you consider vulgar language.. the fact is that it probably would not be called a crime.  

Answer 4

It is obvioulsy your friend who is in trouble somehow otherwise why would you have recommended for her to steer clear of her BF? If he is abusive toward her.. then she has a much better chance to prosecute him.. what he did to you and his friends helped him was done to make you stop interfering.. so the person in danger here is your friend. She may be in a relationship with an abusive BF but she needs to take the steps herself. If she only gets verbally called names then she should end this relationship.. if she gets threats that he will do something to her if she leaves him.. then she needs to get a  restraining order against him and then she should definitely end the relationship and if he doesn't repect the restraining order if he makes threats of violence then she has to call the police every time .. if he just calls her stupid something.. then she should get out of that relationship and find a BF who treats her with respect.. in such a case the police will not be able to do anything unless he is really harrassing her.. waylaying her.. phoning her.. stalking her.. then she needs to get in touch with the police right away but if he calls her a zero or stupid or things like that.. she got to get out of the relationship but she has to make that decision for herself. If she has self respect she will do that... it can over time take away her self esteem but it's her choice to say she had enough.. there is no reason for that to prosecute.. unless there are definite threats made.. apart from using bad language against another person...

Answer 5

I tried to get a restraining order on my ex for verbal abuse, but they said I had to file a police report first. Text messages do not count as proof of verbal abuse because you can't prove who actually sent the message even if it is their number. My advice would be to change your number and maybe even drop your friend if she gave those jerks your number.