California stalking laws, considered among the toughest and most comprehensive in the nation, are defined in Penal Code 646.9. Stalking, in its simplest form, is repeatedly
* following, * harassing and/or * threatening
another person to the point where that individual fears for his/her safety or the safety of his/her family.1
[ What's Considered Stalking (Examples) ]
What's considered stalking? There is no "standard" conduct that qualifies. Any threatening or harassing behavior that places the alleged victim in fear suffices. That said, there are a variety of behaviors that are commonly associated with stalking. These include (but are by no means limited to):
* following someone (including running into them frequently "by accident"),
* making repeated phone calls or sending numerous letters (if the contact is via the Internet...in the form of e-mails, for example...this is what's referred to as California cyberstalking 22 ),
* gathering an inordinate amount of information about an individual (for example, accessing public records, speaking to friends and co-workers, running on-line searches, etc., in an effort to find out likes/dislikes, what locations the individual frequents, etc.),
* repeatedly sending unwanted gifts or notes (of any type ... for example, sending a "living" flower arrangement may be just as criminal as sending "dead" flowers if the gifts are unwanted),
* repeatedly driving by the person's home or office,
* damaging the other person's property (for example, hurting a pet or breaking a favorite keepsake), and