What Are the Penalties for Stalking?

Stalking penalties can be quite severe. In every legal situation like this, it is critical to understand that there are layers of degrees of severity. State laws often offer solutions for all situations including minor infractions to serious situations in which a person's life or belongings are in jeopardy. If you are the victim of stalking, seek police protection and hire an attorney. If you are facing stalking charges in a court of law, an attorney can help you to have your day in court.

What Penalties Are Out There?

Each state has the right and ability to write laws to deal with stalking and similar types of crimes. Each state determines what it considers to be stalking. The laws further define the severities of stalking and the stalking penalties associated with each degree. Take a look at some of the criminal laws in place and what the penalties are.

• In the state of Alabama, stalking is a felony, either a C felony or a B felony.
• In Alaska, in situations where there is a case of enhanced penalty for stalking minor under the age of 16 which is a misdemeanor charge. The state also classifies other limited set of stalking crimes as a C felony.
• In Illinois, stalking is a Class 3 or 4 felony.
• Many states have laws such as Hawaii in which a first offense may be a misdemeanor but a second offense on the same victim escalates the crime to a Class C felony charge.
• In Maryland, Mississippi, and Missouri, stalking is a misdemeanor.
• In Vermont, stalking is a felony charge regardless of the type of stalking or severity. In addition, there are enhanced penalties in place for stalking of a minor.

In addition to these criminal stalking penalties, there are also civil ligation considerations to take place. This includes a stalking protective order or a harassment protective order in most cases. Violations of these orders may lead to misdemeanor or felony charges as well.  In nearly all states, there are laws specifically for stalking, though the definition of stalking may change somewhat from one state to the next.

Getting Legal Aid

For those that are facing stalking charges, it is critical to work with an attorney. The attorney will help you to fight these charges in a court of law and may help you to plea out the case. For those that are victims of stalking, keep in mind an attorney can provide you with legal aid in the case, too.