Cyberbullying is bullying through technology, such as computers and cell phones. Law enforcement officers are increasingly confronted with cyberbullying complaints due to the prevalence of technology used by children and youth, and new legislation and laws addressing these types of incidents. Some cyberbullying incidents may warrant criminal action while others may not. Either way, law enforcement officers should be prepared to receive cyberbullying complaints and help communities address the issue.

Preparing and Responding to Cyberbullying: Tips for Law Enforcement

The IACP and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) jointly produced a tool for law enforcement titled, Preparing and Responding to Cyberbullying: Tips for Law Enforcement. It was developed in 2014 under a project supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

This tool includes more than 20 recommendations to address cyberbullying from subject matter experts working in law enforcement, youth trauma, mental health, computer crimes, victim services, and education. It provides guidance on cyberbullying prevention, preparation, response, and investigation to law enforcement administrators and first responders, and it is available in both English and Spanish.

Refer to this resource to prepare for cyberbullying complaints and help communities address the issue.

Additional Resources

Use these resources to learn about cyberbullying and what you can do to prepare for and handle incidents.

• Law Enforcement and Cyberbullying Fact Sheet from the International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Cyberbullying & Sexting: Law Enforcement Perceptions from the Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Educational resources from NetSmartz Workshop - List of contacts by state for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces
• List of contacts by state for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces
• Bullying and cyberbullying legislation guide from the Cyberbullying Research Center
• Cyberbullying resources from the U.S. Government 
• Model anti-bullying policies for schools from the National School Boards Association
• Reporting to Internet Crime Complaint Center
• Cyberbullying: Our Children, Our Problem Online Training from the National White Collar Crime Center