Stalking Laws by State

While most people probably have an image of stalking in their head that includes following a person around and sneaking peeks in windows the actual law and crime is much more complicated. The State of New York defines stalking as A persistent and unwanted pursuit of an individual by another that would cause a reasonable person to fear. It is an intentional and unpredictable course of conduct that can be annoying, intrusive, intimidating, threatening and harmful. But every state has its own definition of the crime of stalking with different issues that should be considered when trying to understand the laws. One of the common threads of what defines an action as stalking is if unwanted contact is made with an individual. In general, if someone has asked a person leave them alone and they attempt to continue any kind of relationship stalking has occurred.   Stalking Is a Serious Crime While some forms of stalking such as excessive phone calls or showing up at the victims place of business may not seem like that big of a deal these kinds of actions should be taken very seriously. Victims of domestic abuse have a high likelihood of being stalked by their former partner. However, perpetrators of stalking dont always have past relationships with their victims as is often the case with celebrities. Victims of stalking experience a great deal of fear and some have even been attacked or murdered by their stalker.  There have been many cases where cases of stalking turned violent. Some victims have even been attacked or murdered by their stalker. This is especially true in cases where the perpetrator is a former partner. If a friend or loved one tells you theyre being stalked you should contact the authorities.   Definitions of Stalking and Related Offenses in All 50 States and the District of Columbia AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming What to Do if Youre Being Stalked If you have reason to believe youre being stalked there are certain steps you should take no matter what state you’re in. If you suspect you are in physical danger always contact the police immediately. Keep records of any contact your stalker makes, this included digital communication such as text messages, emails, and instant messages. If your stalker sends physical mail​,  keep that as well. Make sure your home is secure against break-ins. A home alarm system which can automatically alert police in case of a break-in may be a good investment. The police are ready and willing to help if you are concerned you’re being stalked.  Ã‚   Source: National Center for Victims of Crime