Stalking & Harassment Laws

[pkendall]

Food for thought

Stalking: It's a Crime

What is Stalking?

 Stalking involves intentional and repeated behaviors that place an individual in reasonable fear for his or her safety. Stalking is a course of conduct used to maintain contact with, or exercise power and control over, another individual. Stalking is serious, often violent, and can escalate over time. Stalking is a crime.

Some Things Stalkers Do

• Follow you and show up wherever you are;
• Repeatedly call you, including hang ups;
• Damage your home, car, or other property;
• Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards, or emails;
• Monitor your phone calls or computer use;
• Threaten you or someone close to you;
• Drive by or hang out at your home, school, or work;
• Find out about you by using public records or on line search services, hiring investigators, going through your garbage, or contacting friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers;
• Repeatedly show up for no legitimate purpose at places where you are; and
• Other actions that control, track, or frighten you.

Important Facts

Serious misdemeanor or an aggravated misdemeanor.

 

708.7  Harassment.

1. a.  A person commits harassment when, with intent to intimidate, annoy, or alarm another person, the person does any of the following:

(1)  Communicates with another by telephone, telegraph, writing, or via electronic communication without legitimate purpose and in a manner likely to cause the other person annoyance or harm.

(2)  Places a simulated explosive or simulated incendiary device in or near a building, vehicle, airplane, railroad engine or railroad car, or boat occupied by another person.

(3)  Orders merchandise or services in the name of another, or to be delivered to another, without the other person's knowledge or consent.

(4)  Reports or causes to be reported false information to a law enforcement authority implicating another in some criminal activity, knowing that the information is false, or reports the alleged occurrence of a criminal act, knowing the act did not occur.

b.  A person commits harassment when the person, purposefully and without legitimate purpose, has personal contact with another person, with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or alarm that other person. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "personal contact" means an encounter in which two or more people are in visual or physical proximity to each other. "Personal contact" does not require a physical touching or oral communication, although it may include these types of contacts.

2.  A person commits harassment in the first degree when the person commits harassment involving a threat to commit a forcible felony, or commits harassment and has previously been convicted of harassment three or more times under this section or any similar statute during the preceding ten years.

Harassment in the first degree is an aggravated misdemeanor.

3.  A person commits harassment in the second degree when the person commits harassment involving a threat to commit bodily injury, or commits harassment and has previously been convicted of harassment two times under this section or any similar statute during the preceding ten years.

Harassment in the second degree is a serious misdemeanor.

4.  Any other act of harassment is harassment in the third degree. Harassment in the third degree is a simple misdemeanor.

[KayleesMommie]

Nov. 25, 2007 at 10:32 AM OMG is some one stalking you?!

[mom_of_3_07]

Nov. 25, 2007 at 10:32 AM WOW!!  You are GOOD Paula!!  Do you think it will help ya???