Harassment and Stalking Laws by State (2026)
How each state charges harassment and stalking and the maximum penalties, from each state criminal code.
| State | Harassment and stalking |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Harassment (physically touching someone, using abusive or obscene language or gestures, or making a threat meant to make a reasonable person fear for safety, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm) and harassing communications (by phone, mail, or any written or electronic communication) are each a Class C misdemeanor. Stalking in the second degree (repeatedly following, harassing or contacting someone, including electronically, after being told to stop, causing material harm to mental or emotional health or fear for one's job) is a Class B misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation is a Class C felony. Stalking in the first degree (repeatedly following or harassing someone and making a threat intended to place them in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily harm) is a Class C felony; stalking that also violates a court order or injunction is aggravated stalking, a Class B felony (first degree) or Class C felony (second degree). Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-11-8, 13A-6-90, 13A-6-90.1, 13A-6-91, 13A-6-91.1 |
| Alaska | Harassment in the second degree, a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days in jail, up to $2,000), covers acting with intent to harass or annoy by, for example, insulting or taunting someone in a way likely to provoke an immediate violent response, making repeated calls at extremely inconvenient hours, making anonymous or obscene calls or sending obscene electronic communications or calls or messages that threaten physical injury or sexual contact, offensive physical contact, distributing intimate images of the person, or repeatedly sending electronic messages that insult, taunt or intimidate a person under 18 and place them in reasonable fear of physical injury. Stalking in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year, up to $25,000), is knowingly engaging in repeated acts of nonconsensual contact that recklessly place the victim in fear of death or physical injury to the victim or a family member. Stalking becomes first-degree stalking, a Class C felony (up to five years, up to $50,000), when it violates probation, release or parole conditions or a protective order, the victim is under 16, the stalker possessed a deadly weapon, or the stalker has a prior conviction for stalking, violating a protective order, or a listed violent or sexual crime involving the same victim. AS 11.61.120(a), 11.41.260, 11.41.270; AS 12.55.125, 12.55.135 |
| Arizona | Harassment is knowingly and repeatedly doing acts that harass a specific person, or knowingly doing certain acts in a harassing way, such as contacting someone by verbal, electronic, telephone or written means, following them in public after being asked to stop, surveilling them, or making false reports about them; it is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to six months, up to $2,500). Harassment becomes aggravated harassment, a class 6 felony (class 5 for a repeat), when it violates a served protective order, injunction or no-contact release condition, and a class 5 felony if the harasser has a prior domestic violence conviction against the same victim. Stalking is intentionally or knowingly engaging in a course of conduct toward a person (including repeated electronic communications or GPS or online tracking) that causes emotional distress or reasonable fear of injury or property damage, a class 5 felony, or reasonable fear of death, a class 3 felony. A.R.S. §§ 13-2921(A), (C), (E); 13-2921.01; 13-2923(A), (C), (D) |
| Arkansas | Harassment (with intent to harass, annoy or alarm and without good cause: unwanted physical contact or threats of it, following someone in public, taunting likely to provoke violence, repeated alarming conduct with no legitimate purpose, or watching someone's home, school, workplace or vehicle) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year, up to $2,500). Harassing communications by phone, mail, email or other electronic means is also a Class A misdemeanor. Stalking in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor; stalking in the second degree (a pattern of harassment plus a terroristic threat) is a Class C felony (3 to 10 years); and stalking in the first degree (for example, violating a protective or no-contact order, a qualifying prior conviction within ten years, or being armed) is a Class B felony (5 to 20 years). Unlawfully distributing an intimate image of another person is a Class D felony when done to cause harm, for value, or as a second offense, and a Class C felony for repeat harmful or third offenses (effective August 5, 2025). Ark. Code §§ 5-71-208, 5-71-209, 5-71-229, 5-26-314(b), (d); 5-4-401; 5-4-201 |
| California | Stalking is willfully and maliciously harassing, or willfully, maliciously and repeatedly following, another person and making a credible threat intended to put that person in reasonable fear for their safety or their immediate family's safety; the threat can be oral, written, electronic or implied by conduct. Stalking can be charged as a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000) or as a felony (16 months, 2 or 3 years in state prison). Stalking in violation of a restraining order or other court order is a felony carrying 2, 3 or 4 years. Stalking by someone with a prior felony conviction for domestic corporal injury, violating a protective order or criminal threats can be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony of 2, 3 or 5 years, and stalking by someone with a prior felony stalking conviction carries 2, 3 or 5 years. Cal. Penal Code § 646.9(a), (b), (c)(1), (c)(2); CALCRIM No. 1301 |
| Colorado | Harassment is acting with intent to harass, annoy or alarm someone by, for example, physical contact, following them in public, directing obscene language or gestures at them in public, repeatedly calling or messaging them, communicating by phone, text, computer or other electronic means in a way meant to harass or threaten injury or property damage, or repeatedly taunting them in a way likely to provoke violence. Electronic, phone and repeated-communication harassment is a class 2 misdemeanor (up to 120 days, up to $750); obscene language or gestures in public is a petty offense; and physical-contact or following harassment, and any harassment motivated by race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or similar bias, is listed as a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 364 days, up to $1,000). Stalking (repeatedly following, contacting, watching or communicating with a person in connection with a credible threat, or in a way that causes serious emotional distress) is a class 5 felony for a first offense (one to three years). It is a class 4 felony (two to six years) for a repeat offense within seven years, or when a protection order, bond, probation or parole condition prohibited the conduct; stalking is also an 'extraordinary risk' crime with a longer sentencing range. C.R.S. §§ 18-9-111(1), (2); 18-3-602(1), (3), (4), (5) |
| Connecticut | Harassment in the second degree, a Class C misdemeanor (up to three months), is communicating by mail, email, text, social media, phone or other means, with intent to harass, terrorize or alarm and for no legitimate purpose, in a manner likely to cause terror, intimidation or alarm. Threatening to kill or injure someone in writing or electronically is harassment in the first degree, a Class D felony, when the person has certain prior serious felony convictions. Stalking in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, is knowingly engaging in a course of conduct (including through electronic or social media) that would make a reasonable person fear for safety or suffer emotional distress, and also covers threatening someone's job and malicious online posting of personal information (doxxing). Stalking becomes first degree, a Class D felony (up to five years), with a prior stalking conviction, a violation of a court order, an adult 22 or older targeting a victim under 16, or bias motivation. Using electronic services to surveil or harass someone with intent to kill, injure, harass or intimidate is electronic stalking, also a Class D felony; repeatedly following or lying in wait is third-degree stalking, a Class B misdemeanor. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-181c, 53a-181d, 53a-181e, 53a-181f, 53a-182b, 53a-183 |
| Delaware | Harassment, a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year), is acting with intent to harass, annoy or alarm someone by taunting or alarming conduct with no legitimate purpose, or by phone, mail or written or electronic communication likely to cause annoyance or alarm, including obscene or repeated calls. Stalking is knowingly engaging in a course of conduct (three or more incidents of following, monitoring, threatening or communicating, by any means or device) that would cause a reasonable person to fear injury or suffer significant mental distress; it is always a felony: Class E (up to 5 years) for a basic offense, Class D (up to 8 years) if an adult 21 or older targets a child under 14, a no-contact order is violated, the victim is 62 or older, there is a threat of death or serious injury, or physical injury is caused, and Class C (up to 15 years) if the stalker has a deadly weapon or causes serious physical injury. A repeat stalking conviction within 5 years carries a minimum 1 year. 11 Del. C. §§ 1311, 1312, 4205(b), 4206 |
| District of Columbia | Stalking is purposely engaging in a course of conduct (on 2 or more occasions, directly or through others, in person or by any means including phone, email or websites, following, monitoring, surveilling, threatening or communicating to or about someone, interfering with their property, or using their personal identifying information) that is intended to, known to, or should be known to make the person fear for safety, feel seriously alarmed or frightened, or suffer emotional distress. It is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine, or both. Stalking carries up to 5 years if the person violated a court, parole or supervised-release no-contact order, has a prior stalking conviction within 10 years, was at least 4 years older than a victim under 18, or caused more than $2,500 in financial injury, and up to 10 years with 2 or more prior stalking convictions. D.C. has no separate general harassment crime; harassing conduct is usually charged as stalking. D.C. Code §§ 22-3132(8), 22-3133, 22-3134 |
| Florida | Stalking is willfully, maliciously and repeatedly following, harassing or cyberstalking another person; it is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $1,000). 'Harass' means a course of conduct causing substantial emotional distress with no legitimate purpose, and 'cyberstalk' covers repeated electronic communications or accessing someone's online accounts or connected home devices without permission. Stalking becomes aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony (up to 5 years), when the person makes a credible threat, violates a domestic violence or other protective injunction or court order, targets a child under 16, or stalks the victim of certain sex offenses after a no-contact order. The sentencing court may issue a no-contact order lasting up to 10 years. Fla. Stat. § 784.048 |
| Georgia | Stalking is following, placing under surveillance, or contacting another person (including 'by computer, by computer network, or by any other electronic device') without consent 'for the purpose of harassing and intimidating' them. A first offense is a misdemeanor; a second or later conviction is a felony punished 'by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years.' Aggravated stalking (the same conduct in violation of a protective or restraining order, bond, or condition of pretrial release, probation or parole) is a felony punished by one to ten years and a fine of up to $10,000.00. Harassing communications (repeatedly contacting someone by phone, email, text or similar means to harass, molest, threaten or intimidate them or their family) is a misdemeanor. O.C.G.A. §§ 16-5-90; 16-5-91; 16-11-39.1 |
| Hawaii | Harassment is a petty misdemeanor (up to 30 days and $1,000): with intent to harass, annoy or alarm, offensively touching someone, insulting or challenging them in a way likely to provoke violence or cause fear of injury, repeatedly calling, texting or emailing without a legitimate purpose, communicating anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, continuing to communicate after being told it is unwelcome, or using threatening coarse language. Harassment by stalking, a course of pursuit, surveillance or nonconsensual contact (in person, by phone or by electronic communication) on more than one occasion without legitimate purpose, is a misdemeanor (up to one year and $2,000), and the court may order counseling. Aggravated harassment by stalking, a repeat stalking offense within five years of a prior harassment-by-stalking conviction, is a class C felony (five years). Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 711-1106, 711-1106.4, 711-1106.5 |
| Idaho | Stalking in the second degree is knowingly and maliciously making repeated unwanted contact (including monitoring by electronic means, sending electronic messages, or repeated calls) that seriously alarms, annoys or harasses the victim or makes a reasonable person fear death or injury; it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. It becomes stalking in the first degree, a felony punishable by one (1) to five (5) years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both, when it violates a protection or no-contact order or probation/parole conditions, the victim is under 16, the stalker had a deadly weapon, or the stalker has a prior stalking conviction within seven years. Separately, using a telephone, email, text or other electronic communication to annoy, terrify, threaten or harass (with obscene language, threats, or repeated messages) is a misdemeanor with up to one year in jail on a first offense and a felony with up to five years on a second or later offense. Idaho Code §§ 18-7905, 18-7906, 18-6710 |
| Illinois | Online harassment is called harassment through electronic communications in Illinois: using electronic communication to make obscene comments to offend, threaten injury to someone or their family or property, disrupt their phone or device service, or harass a child under 13. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months), a second is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum of 14 days in jail or 240 hours of community service, and it is a Class 4 felony in listed cases such as a threat to kill, a prior offense against the same victim, a violation while under an order of protection or on release, or an adult harassing a minor. Stalking (a course of conduct that would make a reasonable person fear for safety or suffer emotional distress) and cyberstalking (the same done electronically) are Class 4 felonies (1 to 3 years), and Class 3 felonies on a second conviction. Aggravated stalking, which involves causing bodily harm, confining the victim, or violating a protective order, is a Class 3 felony (2 to 5 years), and a Class 2 felony on a second conviction. 720 ILCS 5/26.5-3; 720 ILCS 5/26.5-5; 720 ILCS 5/12-7.3(a), (b); 720 ILCS 5/12-7.5(a), (b); 720 ILCS 5/12-7.4(a), (b); 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-60, -55, -45, -40, -35 |
| Indiana | Stalking is a knowing or intentional course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another person that would make a reasonable person feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated or threatened and actually does. It is a Level 6 felony; a Level 5 felony if it involves a protective order to prevent domestic or family violence, a no-contact order, or a pretrial-release order the person knew of; and a Level 4 felony if the person has an unrelated prior stalking conviction against the same victim. Separately, harassment, communicating with someone by phone call, text, computer network or other electronic communication with intent to harass, annoy or alarm and no intent of legitimate communication, is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days). Ind. Code §§ 35-45-10-1, -2, -5(a)-(c); 35-45-2-2(a)(1), (a)(4)(A), as quoted in Houston v. State, No. 25A-CR-1418 (Ind. Ct. App. Mar. 24, 2026) (mem.), Luke v. State, No. 24A-CR-2668 (Ind. Ct. App. Nov. 21, 2025), Moone v. State, No. 23A-CR-3050 (Ind. Ct. App. Jan. 29, 2025), and Alexander v. State, No. 25A-CR-1616 (Ind. Ct. App. Jan. 21, 2026) |
| Iowa | Harassment includes communicating with someone by phone, writing or electronic communication without legitimate purpose, with intent to intimidate, annoy or alarm, as well as purposeful in-person contact meant to threaten, false police reports about someone, and posting nude or sexual images of a person without consent. Harassment is a simple misdemeanor (third degree); it is a serious misdemeanor (second degree) when it involves a threat of bodily injury or two prior convictions in ten years, and an aggravated misdemeanor (first degree) when it involves a threat of a forcible felony, nonconsensual sexual images, or three or more prior convictions in ten years. Stalking is a purposeful course of conduct (following, watching or tracking someone by technology, or repeated threats) that would make a reasonable person fear injury or death; a first offense is an aggravated misdemeanor and a second is a class "D" felony. Stalking is a class "C" felony if the stalker violates a protective or no-contact order, has a dangerous weapon, targets someone under 18, uses a technological device such as a phone or GPS, or has two prior offenses. Iowa Code §§ 708.7(1)-(4), 708.11(1)-(3) (Iowa Code 2026) |
| Kansas | Harassment by telecommunication device covers using a phone, cell phone, fax or other electronic communication device to send obscene or lewd messages or images, to make calls or send messages intended to abuse, threaten or harass, or to make a device ring repeatedly to harass; it is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. Stalking is a course of conduct (two or more acts, such as threats, following, showing up at home or work, damaging property, or using electronic tracking) aimed at a specific person that causes fear for their safety or their family's. Reckless or knowing stalking is a class A person misdemeanor for a first conviction and a severity level 7 or 5 person felony for a second. Stalking that violates a served protective order is a severity level 9 person felony (level 5 on a repeat), and intentionally stalking a child under 14 is a severity level 7 person felony (level 4 on a repeat). K.S.A. 21-5427(a), (b), (f); 21-6206 |
| Kentucky | Harassment, acting with intent to intimidate, harass, annoy or alarm by following someone in public, making offensively coarse public displays, or repeatedly doing things with no legitimate purpose that alarm or seriously annoy someone, is a violation (fine up to $250), or a Class B misdemeanor if it involves physical contact. Harassing communications by phone, mail, text or other electronic or written means with no legitimate purpose is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days). As of July 15, 2026, Kentucky has a single stalking offense: intentionally engaging in a course of conduct (two or more acts, including following, monitoring, surveillance or contact through the internet, social media, texts or phones) that seriously alarms, annoys, intimidates or harasses someone, serves no legitimate purpose and causes substantial mental distress. Stalking is a Class D felony (1 to 5 years), and a Class C felony (5 to 10 years) if it violates a protective order, a criminal complaint by the same victim is pending, the stalker had a felony or Class A misdemeanor conviction against the same victim within five years, the stalker had a deadly weapon, or the victim is placed in reasonable fear of sexual contact, physical injury or death. KRS 508.130 (eff. July 15, 2026); 525.070; 525.080; 532.060; 534.040 |
| Louisiana | Stalking (repeatedly following or harassing someone in a way that would alarm a reasonable person) carries, for a first conviction, a fine of $500 to $1,000 and 30 days to one year. It becomes a felony when the victim is placed in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury or a dangerous weapon is used (one to five years), when a protective order is violated (90 days to two years), on a second conviction within seven years (five to 20 years), or a third (10 to 40 years). Online stalking is cyberstalking: first offense up to $2,000 and one year; second within seven years, 180 days to three years. Harassing phone calls, texts or messages: first offense up to $500 and six months; second or later up to $5,000 and two years. La. R.S. 14:40.2(A), (B); R.S. 14:40.3(B), (C); R.S. 14:285(A), (C), (D) |
| Maine | Harassment is, without reasonable cause, engaging in a course of conduct intended to harass, torment or threaten someone after being told not to by a police officer, a court protective order or certain other officials. It is a Class E crime (up to 6 months), and a Class C crime with two or more prior harassment convictions involving the same victim or family. Stalking is intentionally or knowingly engaging in a course of conduct (2 or more acts, by any action, method, device or means) aimed at a specific person that would make a reasonable person suffer serious inconvenience or emotional distress or fear injury, death, or harm to property or an animal. Stalking is a Class D crime; it becomes Class C with one or more prior stalking convictions or when it targets 2 or more members of an identifiable group, and Class B in certain repeat cases. 17-A M.R.S. §§ 506-A, 210-A, 1604(1) |
| Maryland | Harassment is following someone in public, watching their home, or maliciously engaging in conduct that alarms or seriously annoys them, with intent to harass, after being warned to stop. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days and/or $500 (first offense) or up to 180 days and/or $1,000 (later offenses). Stalking is a malicious course of conduct of approaching or pursuing someone, in person, by electronic communication, or with a hidden location-tracking device, meant to (or that should be known to) cause reasonable fear of serious injury, assault, sexual offense, false imprisonment or death, or serious emotional distress. Stalking is a misdemeanor in Maryland but carries up to 5 years, a fine up to $5,000, or both. Harassing someone by repeated electronic messages, and several online-harassment acts aimed at minors, are misdemeanors punishable by up to 3 years and/or $10,000 (up to 10 years if meant to push a minor to suicide). Md. Code, Crim. Law §§ 3-802, 3-803, 3-805 |
| Massachusetts | Criminal harassment is willfully and maliciously engaging in a knowing pattern of conduct aimed at a specific person that seriously alarms them and would cause a reasonable person substantial emotional distress, including by mail, phone or electronic communication. A first offense carries up to 2 1/2 years in a house of correction, a fine up to $5,000, or both; a second offense is a felony with up to 10 years in state prison and a fine up to $15,000. Stalking adds a threat meant to put the person in imminent fear of death or bodily injury, and expressly includes email, internet and instant messages. Stalking is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in state prison or a $1,000 fine (or up to 2 1/2 years in a house of correction); stalking in violation of a restraining order carries a mandatory 1 to 5 years, and a second stalking offense carries a mandatory 2 to 10 years. G.L. c. 265, §§ 43, 43A |
| Michigan | Stalking is a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment that would make a reasonable person feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested, and actually does. 'Unconsented contact' includes sending mail or electronic communications. Stalking is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year and/or $1,000, and a felony (up to 5 years and/or $10,000) if the victim is under 18 and the offender is at least 5 years older. Aggravated stalking is a felony punishable by up to 5 years and/or $10,000 (up to 10 years and/or $15,000 with a minor victim) when an act violates a restraining order, injunction or release conditions, the conduct includes a credible threat, or the person has a prior stalking conviction. MCL 750.411h(1)(e)-(f), (2); 750.411i |
| Minnesota | Harassment is following, monitoring or pursuing someone (in person or through technology), repeatedly calling or texting, or repeatedly sending items, including electronically, with intent to kill, injure, harass or intimidate, causing reasonable fear of substantial bodily harm or substantial emotional distress. It is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $3,000). Aggravated harassment under subdivision 3 is a felony up to five years; a repeat violation is a felony up to five years, or up to ten years within ten years of the first of two or more prior qualified convictions. Stalking (two or more qualifying acts within five years that make the victim feel terrorized or fear bodily harm) is a felony punishable by up to ten years. Minn. Stat. § 609.749, subds. 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Mississippi | Stalking is purposely engaging in a course of conduct aimed at a specific person, or making a credible threat, that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety (contacts by phone, mail or electronic communication count); it is punished by up to one year in county jail and/or up to $1,000 (§ 97-3-107(1)). It becomes aggravated stalking, a felony with up to five years and up to $3,000, when, for example, a deadly weapon is used or displayed or the person has a stalking conviction within the past seven years (§ 97-3-107(2)). Cyberstalking (threats, demands or repeated harassing electronic communications) is a felony with up to two years and/or $5,000, or up to five years and/or $10,000 if it violates a restraining order or release conditions, involves a credible threat, or is a repeat offense (§ 97-45-15). Harassing telephone or electronic communications are a misdemeanor (up to $500 and/or six months), and a third offense within five years is a felony (up to two years) (§ 97-29-45). Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-107, 97-45-15, 97-29-45 |
| Missouri | Harassment in the second degree is acting, without good cause, with the purpose of causing emotional distress to another person; it is a class A misdemeanor (up to one year), or a class E felony on a repeat offense. If the act actually causes emotional distress, it is harassment in the first degree, a class E felony (up to four years). Stalking in the second degree is purposely disturbing or following someone through a course of conduct, a class A misdemeanor (class E felony with a qualifying prior or when a law enforcement officer is targeted). Stalking becomes first-degree stalking, a class E felony, when it involves a credible threat to the person, family, household or animals, violates a protection order or probation/parole/bond conditions, targets someone 17 or younger by a person 21 or older, follows prior domestic-assault or protection-order convictions, or involves accessing an address-confidentiality participant's address; it is a class D felony (up to seven years) with a prior stalking conviction or when a law enforcement officer is targeted. RSMo §§ 565.090, 565.091, 565.225, 565.227 (versions in effect 10/27/2026); § 558.011 |
| Montana | Stalking is purposely or knowingly engaging in a course of conduct aimed at a specific person (following, monitoring, harassing or communicating by any means, including electronic, digital or GPS devices) that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their own safety or the safety of a third person, or suffer other substantial emotional distress. A first offense carries up to 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. It becomes a felony, punishable by up to 5 years in state prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both, for a second offense within 20 years, or on a first offense if the stalker violated a protection order, used or threatened force or a weapon, or the victim is a minor at least 5 years younger than the offender. Separately, using electronic communication to threaten, terrify or harass someone, or repeatedly disturbing them, is violating privacy in communications: up to 6 months and $500 for a first conviction, up to 1 year and $1,000 for a second, and a felony with up to 5 years and $10,000 for a third or later conviction. MCA §§ 45-5-220, 45-8-213(1)(a)-(b), (4) |
| Nebraska | Stalking is willfully harassing another person or their family or household member with intent to injure, terrify, threaten or intimidate; 'harass' means a knowing and willful course of conduct aimed at a specific person (following, detaining, telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with them) that seriously terrifies, threatens or intimidates them and serves no legitimate purpose. As amended in 2026 (operative July 18, 2026), any stalking violation is a Class IIIA felony, punishable by up to three years in prison plus post-release supervision or a $10,000 fine. Separately, telephoning or electronically communicating with someone to intimidate, threaten or harass them (with obscene language, threats of injury, or extortion attempts) is intimidation by telephone call or electronic communication, a Class III misdemeanor. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-311.02, 28-311.03, 28-311.04 (operative July 18, 2026), 28-1310 |
| Nevada | Harassment is knowingly threatening, without lawful authority, to cause future bodily injury, property damage, confinement, or other substantial harm to someone's physical or mental health or safety, in a way that puts the person in reasonable fear the threat will be carried out; it is a misdemeanor for a first offense and a gross misdemeanor for a second or later offense. Stalking is willfully or maliciously engaging in a course of conduct (two or more acts, in person or by electronic means such as internet sites, social media, email or text) that would make a reasonable person feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, harassed or fearful and actually does. Stalking is a misdemeanor for a first offense, a gross misdemeanor for a second, and a category C felony (1 to 5 years, fine up to $5,000) for a third or later offense; stalking a victim under 16 by someone 5 or more years older is graded higher. Aggravated stalking (threatening death or substantial bodily harm) is a category B felony with 2 to 15 years, and using electronic means to publish or distribute information in a way that substantially increases the risk of harm to the victim is a category C felony. NRS 200.571, 200.575(1)-(4), (11) |
| New Hampshire | Harassment is a misdemeanor and covers communications made to annoy or alarm someone, such as telephone calls with no legitimate purpose and threats to kidnap or harm, by any method including electronic transmissions through a computer. Stalking is purposely, knowingly or recklessly engaging in a course of conduct (2 or more acts, including any act of communication) aimed at a specific person that would make a reasonable person fear for their safety or a family member's safety and actually does, or violating a protective order by a single listed act. Stalking is a class A misdemeanor (up to one year and $2,000), and a class B felony (up to seven years) when the person has a prior stalking conviction and the new offense occurs within 7 years of the prior one. RSA 644:4, 633:3-a |
| New Jersey | Harassment — communicating anonymously, at inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language; striking, kicking, shoving or other offensive touching; or a course of alarming conduct, done with purpose to harass — is a petty disorderly persons offense, raised to a crime of the fourth degree if the person was on probation or parole or serving a sentence for an indictable offense, or targets a judge over the judge's official duties (§ 2C:33-4). Online harassment is called cyber-harassment: a crime of the fourth degree, and a crime of the third degree if an adult 21 or older impersonates a minor to cyber-harass a minor, or the victim is a public servant or a public servant's family member (§ 2C:33-4.1). Stalking — purposely or knowingly engaging in a course of conduct (by any action, method, device or means) directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or a third person's safety or suffer other emotional distress — is a crime of the fourth degree (up to 18 months) (§ 2C:12-10(b)). Stalking becomes a crime of the third degree (3 to 5 years) if it violates an existing court order, is a second or subsequent offense against the same victim, or is committed while in prison or on parole or probation for an indictable offense (§ 2C:12-10(c)-(e)). N.J.S. 2C:33-4; N.J.S. 2C:33-4.1; N.J.S. 2C:12-10; N.J.S. 2C:43-6(a) |
| New Mexico | Harassment is knowingly pursuing a pattern of conduct intended to annoy, seriously alarm or terrorize another person that serves no lawful purpose and would cause a reasonable person substantial emotional distress; it is a misdemeanor (a definite term of less than one year in the county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, § 31-19-1(A)) (§ 30-3A-2). Stalking is knowingly pursuing a pattern of conduct (two or more acts, by any action, method, device or means, including following, monitoring, surveilling, threatening or communicating to or about a person) intended to place someone in reasonable apprehension of death, bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement or restraint. Stalking is a misdemeanor for a first conviction and a fourth degree felony on a second or subsequent conviction, and the court must order counseling or a domestic violence offender program (§ 30-3A-3). Aggravated stalking — stalking in violation of a protection order or release conditions, while possessing a deadly weapon, or against a victim under sixteen — is a fourth degree felony, and a third degree felony on a second or subsequent conviction (§ 30-3A-3.1). NMSA 1978, §§ 30-3A-2, 30-3A-3, 30-3A-3.1; §§ 31-18-15, 31-19-1 |
| New York | Harassment in the second degree (shoving or striking, following someone in public, or a course of alarming conduct with no legitimate purpose) is a violation; intentionally and repeatedly harassing another person is harassment in the first degree, a class B misdemeanor. Threatening someone by telephone, computer or other electronic means, or making calls with no legitimate purpose, is aggravated harassment in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. Stalking in the fourth degree (a course of conduct aimed at a specific person, including GPS tracking, that causes reasonable fear of material harm or, after being told to stop, emotional harm or fear for one's job) is a class B misdemeanor; third degree (a class A misdemeanor) covers threats of physical injury, multiple victims, or a prior stalking or predicate conviction within ten years. Stalking becomes a felony as stalking in the second degree, a class E felony, when a weapon is displayed or threatened, the victim is under fourteen (and the stalker is 21 or older), or there are certain prior convictions or ten or more victims, and stalking in the first degree, a class D felony, when the stalker causes physical injury or commits certain sex offenses. N.Y. Penal Law §§ 240.25, 240.26, 240.30, 120.45, 120.50, 120.55, 120.60 |
| North Carolina | Stalking is willfully harassing someone on more than one occasion, or engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person, without legal purpose, when the person knows or should know it would make a reasonable person fear for their safety or suffer substantial emotional distress; harassment includes calls, texts, email and other electronic communications. Stalking is a Class A1 misdemeanor; it becomes a Class H felony when a court order prohibiting the conduct is in effect, and a Class F felony after a prior stalking conviction. Cyberstalking (threatening or repeatedly harassing electronic messages, knowingly false messages, or secretly placing an electronic tracking device) and harassing or threatening telephone calls are each Class 2 misdemeanors. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-277.3A(c)-(d), 14-196.3, 14-196 |
| North Dakota | Harassment is, with intent to frighten or harass, threatening injury in writing or electronically, making anonymous or coarse phone calls, repeated calls or electronic messages with no legitimate purpose, sending falsehoods that cause mental anguish, posting someone's personal identifying information online, or misusing 911; a written or electronic threat (or 911 misuse) is a class A misdemeanor, and other harassment is a class B misdemeanor. Stalking is an intentional course of conduct (two or more acts) directed at a specific person that frightens, intimidates or harasses them with no legitimate purpose, including unauthorized GPS or electronic tracking or drone use; it is a class A misdemeanor. Stalking becomes a class C felony (up to 5 years) when it violates a protection order the person knew about, when the person has a prior stalking conviction, or when the person has a prior assault, harassment or similar conviction involving the same victim. N.D.C.C. §§ 12.1-17-07, 12.1-17-07.1 |
| Ohio | Menacing by stalking is knowingly engaging in a pattern of conduct (two or more related acts) that makes someone believe the offender will cause them physical harm or causes them mental distress, including by electronic posts or messages; it is a misdemeanor of the first degree (up to 180 days). It becomes a fourth-degree felony (6 to 18 months) when, for example, the offender has a prior stalking conviction, threatened physical harm, trespassed at the victim's home, work or school, the victim is a minor, the offender had a deadly weapon, or the offender was under a protection order. Telecommunications harassment (calls, texts or internet posts made to abuse, threaten or harass) is a first-degree misdemeanor for a first offense and a fifth-degree felony for each later offense. R.C. 2903.211(A)-(B), 2917.21(C)(2) |
| Oklahoma | Stalking (willfully, maliciously and repeatedly following or harassing someone so they feel terrorized, frightened or threatened) is a felony in Oklahoma: up to three (3) years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.00; up to six (6) years for a second conviction and up to twelve (12) years for a third. Stalking in violation of a protective order, while on probation, or within ten (10) years of a violent crime against the same victim is a Class B5 felony punishable by up to fifteen (15) years. Online and phone harassment (threatening, obscene or harassing calls, texts, emails or social-media posts) is a misdemeanor; a second conviction is a Class D1 felony. 21 O.S. §§ 1173(A)-(D), 1172(A), (D)-(E) |
| Oregon | Harassment includes offensive physical contact and conveying, by telephone, electronic means or writing, a threat to inflict serious physical injury or commit a felony that would reasonably cause alarm; it is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months), or a Class A misdemeanor in listed situations such as a threat to kill that a reasonable person would believe is likely to be carried out, or a threat made while a protective order is in effect. Telephonic harassment (repeated calls with no purpose, or calls, texts or voicemails after being told to stop) is a Class B misdemeanor. Stalking is knowingly alarming or coercing someone through repeated and unwanted contact that causes reasonable fear for their personal safety or that of their family or household; "contact" includes written or electronic communications. Stalking is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days), and becomes a Class C felony (up to 5 years) with a prior conviction for stalking or violating a stalking protective order, when the person is under an active protection order protecting someone else, or when any of the contacts is itself a felony, unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, or unlawful use of a GPS device. ORS 166.065, 166.090, 163.730(3), 163.732; 161.605, 161.615 |
| Pennsylvania | Harassment is acting with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person, including by physical contact, following in public places, or communicating (including by phone, email or Internet) with lewd, threatening or obscene words or repeatedly in an anonymous manner. Physical contact, following and similar conduct is a summary offense; the communication forms, and cyber harassment of a child through electronic means or social media, are misdemeanors of the third degree (up to one year). The grade goes up one degree when the person previously violated a protection-from-abuse order involving the same victim. Stalking is a course of conduct or repeated communications showing intent to put another person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or to cause substantial emotional distress; a first offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree (up to five years), and it becomes a felony of the third degree (up to seven years) for a second or later stalking offense, or a first offense by someone previously convicted of a crime of violence against the same victim or the victim's family or household member. 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2709(a), (a.1), (c), 2709.1(a), (c); 1103-1105 |
| Rhode Island | Stalking is harassing another person, or willfully, maliciously and repeatedly following another person, with intent to place them in reasonable fear of bodily injury. It is a felony punishable by up to five (5) years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both. Cyberstalking and cyberharassment (sending communications by computer or other electronic device, or causing someone to be contacted, for the sole purpose of harassing that person or their family) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, up to one year in prison, or both; a second or later conviction is a felony punishable by up to two (2) years, a fine up to $6,000, or both. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-59-2, 11-52-4.2 |
| South Carolina | Harassment in the second degree is a pattern of intentional, substantial and unreasonable intrusion into someone's private life, which can include verbal, written or electronic contact, that would cause a reasonable person mental or emotional distress; it is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $200, up to thirty days, or both (up to $1,000 and one year with a prior harassment or stalking conviction within ten years or a restraining order in effect). Harassment in the first degree (a similar pattern including following, surveillance or property damage) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and three years, and a felony (up to $5,000 and five years) with a prior harassment or stalking conviction within ten years. Stalking is a pattern of words (including electronic communications) or conduct intended to cause, and that does cause, reasonable fear of death, assault, bodily injury, sexual contact, kidnapping or property damage; it is always a felony, punishable by up to $5,000 and five years, up to ten years if a restraining order was in effect, and up to fifteen years with a prior harassment or stalking conviction within ten years. S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700, 16-3-1710, 16-3-1720, 16-3-1730 |
| South Dakota | Stalking is willfully, maliciously and repeatedly following or harassing someone, making a credible threat intended to put them in reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury, or willfully, maliciously and repeatedly harassing someone by verbal, electronic, digital media, mechanical, telegraphic or written communication. Stalking is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to one year), and a second or later conviction within ten years is a Class 6 felony (up to two years). Stalking while a restraining order, protection order or no-contact order against the same conduct is in effect is also a Class 6 felony. Using a phone or other electronic communication device to contact someone with intent to terrorize, intimidate, threaten, harass or annoy them, or with repeated anonymous calls, is a Class 1 misdemeanor. SDCL 22-19A-1, 22-19A-2, 49-31-31; 22-6-1, 22-6-2 |
| Tennessee | Harassment covers intentionally threatening harm, communicating without a lawful purpose in a way meant to annoy, offend, alarm or frighten, falsely telling someone a relative was hurt or killed, sending images meant as a threat, and bullying or cyber-bullying. It is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months 29 days and/or $2,500); it is a Class E felony (1 to 6 years) when a person convicted of a crime, while incarcerated or on pretrial diversion, probation, community correction or parole, contacts the victim in person in a threatening, anonymous or repetitive way. Stalking (a willful course of repeated harassment that would make a reasonable person feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested) is a Class A misdemeanor, or a Class E felony if the stalker was required to register as a sexual offender. Aggravated stalking (for example, displaying a deadly weapon, a minor victim, a victim 65 or older, a prior stalking conviction within seven years, a credible threat, or violating a protective order) is a Class E felony, and especially aggravated stalking (for example, a prior conviction involving the same victim or causing serious bodily injury) is a Class C felony (3 to 15 years). Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-17-308(a)-(c); 39-17-315(b)-(d); 40-35-111 |
| Texas | Harassment covers acting with intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment or embarrass someone by, for example, making obscene comments, threatening bodily injury or a felony, falsely reporting a death or serious injury, repeated or anonymous phone calls, repeated electronic messages, repeated online posts likely to cause distress, or tracking someone's property or vehicle without consent. It is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days and $2,000), and a Class A misdemeanor with a prior harassment conviction or in certain other listed cases. Stalking, repeatedly following a pattern of conduct directed at one person that is harassing or threatening and causes the person to fear harm or feel harassed, is a third-degree felony (2 to 10 years), and a second-degree felony (2 to 20 years) with a prior stalking conviction. Tex. Penal Code §§ 42.07(a), (c); 42.072(a), (b); 12.21, 12.22, 12.33, 12.34 |
| Utah | Harassment in Utah is communicating a written or recorded threat to commit a violent felony, intending to frighten or harass; it is a class B misdemeanor. Electronic communication harassment, such as repeated texts or calls meant to intimidate, abuse, threaten or harass, continued contact after being told to stop, or electronic threats of injury or property damage, is a class B misdemeanor, and a class A misdemeanor for a second or later violation. Stalking is a course of conduct (two or more acts, including following, monitoring, or contacting someone online) that the actor knows or should know would make a reasonable person fear for safety or suffer emotional distress; a first offense is a class A misdemeanor. Stalking is a third degree felony with a prior stalking conviction, a violation of a permanent criminal stalking injunction, or when the actor is or was the victim's cohabitant, and a second degree felony if the actor used a dangerous weapon or has two or more prior stalking convictions. Utah Code §§ 76-5-106, 76-12-202, 76-5-106.5(1)-(3) |
| Vermont | Using phone calls, texts or other electronic communications, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass or annoy, to make obscene requests, threaten injury or property damage, or repeatedly disturb someone is disturbing the peace by electronic communications, punishable by up to three months and $250 (up to six months and $500 for a repeat offense). Aggravated disorderly conduct, a course of conduct aimed at a specific person that includes fighting, threats of bodily injury, or similar behavior, is punishable by up to 180 days and $2,000. Stalking, purposefully engaging in a course of conduct (following, monitoring, surveilling, threatening, including by electronic means) that would make a reasonable person fear for safety or suffer substantial emotional distress, is punishable by up to two years and $5,000. Aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by up to five years and $25,000, applies when the stalking violates a court order, the person has a prior stalking conviction or a prior violent offense against the same victim, the victim is under 16, or the stalker had a deadly weapon. 13 V.S.A. §§ 1027, 1026a, 1061, 1062, 1063 |
| Virginia | Stalking is engaging in conduct more than once, in person or by mail, phone or electronic communication, directed at a person, intending to cause (or knowing or reasonably should know it would cause) reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault or bodily injury to that person or a family or household member. A first offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500). A second stalking offense within five years of a prior conviction is a Class 6 felony (1 to 5 years, or up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine). Separately, using a computer or network to coerce, intimidate or harass someone by sending obscene language, indecent proposals or threats is harassment by computer, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Va. Code §§ 18.2-60.3(A)-(C), 18.2-152.7:1, 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | Stalking is intentionally and repeatedly harassing or following someone, contacting or monitoring them after being told to stop, or secretly tracking them with an electronic device, causing substantial emotional distress or reasonable fear. It is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $5,000) but a class B felony (up to 10 years and $20,000) if the stalker has a prior harassment or stalking conviction, violates a protective order, is armed with a deadly weapon, or targets an officer, judge or other protected official or a witness in retaliation. Harassment (knowingly threatening to injure someone, damage property or restrain someone, causing reasonable fear) is a gross misdemeanor, and a class C felony if it is a threat to kill, follows a prior harassment conviction involving the same victim or family, or targets a criminal justice participant or election official. Cyber harassment (electronic messages meant to harass or intimidate that are obscene, anonymous, repeated or threatening) is a gross misdemeanor with the same class C felony triggers, plus violation of a protective order. RCW 9A.46.110, 9A.46.020, 9A.90.120, 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Stalking (a course of conduct of two or more acts, which can include nonconsensual contact through electronic communication) and harassment or repeated credible threats are misdemeanors punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Doing so in violation of a qualifying court order raises the penalty to 90 days to 1 year in jail, a fine of $2,000 to $5,000, or both. It becomes a felony on a second or later conviction, or when it violates certain protective orders (1 to 5 years in prison, a fine of $3,000 to $10,000, or both), and harassing or stalking someone to cause self-harm or suicide is a felony with 2 to 10 years. W. Va. Code § 61-2-9a |
| Wisconsin | Stalking in Wisconsin is always a felony: intentionally engaging in a course of conduct (two or more acts, including following, showing up at home or work, repeated calls, texts, electronic messages, social media posts, or electronic monitoring) that would cause a reasonable person serious emotional distress or fear of bodily injury or death, and does so, is a Class I felony (up to 3 years 6 months). It is a Class H felony (up to 6 years) with a prior violent-crime or stalking conviction, a prior conviction involving the same victim within 7 years, a victim under 18, or misuse of personal records; and a Class F felony (up to 12 years 6 months) if it causes bodily harm, uses a dangerous weapon, or follows a prior conviction involving the same victim within 7 years. Harassment (physical contact or a course of conduct meant to harass or intimidate) is a Class B forfeiture (up to $1,000), but a Class A misdemeanor with a credible threat while under a protective order or similar circumstances, and a Class I felony with a prior harassment or stalking conviction involving the same victim within 7 years. Sending harassing or threatening electronic messages is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days and/or $1,000). Wis. Stat. §§ 940.32(1)-(3), 947.013(1m)-(1x), 947.0125(2), 939.50(3), 939.51(3) |
| Wyoming | Stalking is a course of conduct intended to harass a specific person (communications by any means, following, surveillance outside the person's home, school, work or vehicle, or electronic or GPS surveillance, including of their internet or wireless activity) that a reasonable person would find substantially distressing or frightening. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year in jail, a fine of not more than $750, or both. It becomes felony stalking, punishable by up to ten (10) years, if it occurs within five years after completing a sentence for a prior stalking conviction, causes serious bodily harm, violates probation, parole or bail conditions, violates a protection order, or is committed by an adult against a minor. Telephone or electronic harassment (anonymous obscene calls, repeated anonymous calls, or electronically or in writing threatening death or injury) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year and $1,000. W.S. 6-2-506(b), (d), (e); 6-6-103 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.