Michigan students are warned about stronger cyberbullying laws

NILES, Mich. --School officials are warning Michigan students that cyberbullying is a crime with some hefty consequences.

The warning comes as the laws changed earlier this year making cyberbullying punishable with jail time and fines to pay.

Cyberbullying is considered harassing another person online.

“You would be surprised and amazed at how much stuff the younger kids have access to because we’ve got kids that are in third grade and they’ve got phones. Not all of them have phone but they have phones, they have tablets at home, they’re getting on the same apps that adults are using,” according to Jim Boger, Principal at Brandywine Elementary School.

The current cyberbullying laws in Michigan state that if someone is found guilty of a misdemeanor the penalty is 93 days in jail, a maximum fine of $500, or both.

If a suspect commits two or more separate acts of harassment, the penalties increase to a five year sentence and a $5,000 fine.