Stalking Laws I: Criminal and Civil Laws

State Criminal Laws Civil Protective Laws
Alabama B or C felony  
Alaska C felony orA misdemeanor  
Arizona Felony 4

Harassment Orders available; comtempt penalty

Arkansas B or C felony  
California Felony or misdemeanor; 2nd has 4 year maximum Stalking and harassment orders available--violation has 4 year maximum
Colorado Felony 6; 2nd is Class 5 felony Stalking and harassment orders available; violation is Class 6 felony
Connecticut D felony or misdemeanor  
Delaware F felony  
District of Columbia Misdemeanor; increase up to 10 months and 3 years for 2nd and 3rd offenses  
Florida Felony 3 or misdemeanor 1

Stalking protective orders available; violation is misdemeanor

Georgia Felony or misdemeanor

Stalking protection order available; violation is misdemeanor

Hawaii C felony or misdemeanor  
Idaho Misdemeanor; felony for 2nd offense Stalking protective orders available--violation is misdemeanor; 2nd is felony
Illinois Class 3 felony  
Indiana Felony or misdemeanor  
Iowa D felony or aggravated misdemeanor

Stalking protection order available; violation is misdemeanor

Kansas Class 10 felony  
Kentucky De felony or C misdemeanor  
Louisiana Felony or misdemeanor  
Maine Class D crime; 3rd is Class C crime Harassment protection orders available; violation is Class D crime
Maryland Misdemeanor (5 year maximum)  
Massachusetts Felony  
Michigan Felony or misdemeanor; Enhanced penalty if offender is adult stalking minor Stalking protective orders available; no criminal penalty set
Minnesota Felony or misdemeanor Stalking protective orders available--violation is misdemeanor
Mississippi Misdemeanor; felony for 2nd offense  
Missouri D felony; 2nd is C felony Stalking protective orders available; violation is misdemeanor; 2nd in 5 years is D felony
Montana Misdemeanor; 2nd is felony

Stalking protection orders available; 3rd violation is felony

Nebraska Class 3 misdemeanor; 2nd is class 4 felony

Stalking protection orders available; violation is misdemeanor

Nevada Misdemeanor or B felony Stalking protection orders available; violation of temp order is misdemeanor; permanent order violation is C felony
New Hampshire Misdemeanor; 2nd is B felony

Protective Order; misdemeanor penalty, 2d is felony

New Jersey Felony or misdemeanor  
New Mexico Felony or misdemeanor  
New York B misdemeanor  
North Carolina Misdemeanor 1 or 2; 2nd is felony  
North Dakota Felony or misdemeanor

Disorderly conduct orders available

Ohio Misdemeanor 1; 2nd is felony 5 Stalking protection order available; violation is misdemeanor
Oklahoma Felony or misdemeanor Stalking protective orders available--violation is misdemeanor
Oregon A misdemeanor; 2nd is C felony Protective orders--Violation is A misdemeanor or C felony
Pennsylvania Misdemeanor; 2nd is felony  
Rhode Island Misdemeanor; 2nd is felony Stalking protective orders available--violation is felony
South Carolina Felony or misdemeanor Stalking protective orders available--violation is misdemeanor
South Dakota Felony or misdemeanor Stalking protective orders available--violation is felony 6, if with assault or stalking violation of abuse order; misdemeanor otherwise
Tennessee A misdemeanor; 2nd is C felony (if same victim) or E felony  
Texas A misdemeanor; 2nd is felony 3  
Utah Felony or misdemeanor  
Vermont Felony or misdemeanor; 2nd is felony  
Virginia Class 2 misdemeanor; 2nd is Class 1; 3rd is felony 6 Stalking protective orders available; 3rd violation is felony
Washington Felony or misdemeanor Harassment protective orders available; violation is C felony
West Virginia Misdemeanor; 3rd in 5 years is felony  
Wisconsin Felony or misdemeanor; 2nd is E felony Anti-harassment protective orders available--Violation is 90 days maximum
Wyoming Felony or misdemeanor Stalking protective orders available--violation is misdemeanor


Last Updated on 9/04/98
By Institute for Law and Justice
Email: