Stalking
Are you being stalked? What do you do? What if you would like a protective order?
Are you being stalked?
Stalking is a crime in New Hampshire under RSA 633:3-a. According to the law, it is illegal to purposely engage in two or more acts that cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her, or a family member’s, safety.
1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime.
Usually, a victim knows their stalker and has some personal history with them. If you are being stalked, it is not your fault. Stalkers often take advantage of this personal connection that they have, using information about where the victim lives and works, family and friends’ contact information, and usernames and passwords to monitor the victim’s whereabouts, activities, and communications.
There are many forms of stalking. The list includes but is not limited to:
- following a victim;
- showing up at a victim’s home, place of work, or homes of family and friends;
- sending harassing communications;
- reading a victim’s mail, email or text messages;
- violating a restraining order or continuing harassing conduct after being warned by law enforcement that the conduct is in violation of stalking laws.
What do you do?
Call the police and report the stalking. Call 9-1-1 to reach your local police and report the crime.
Keep a detailed log of the stalking activities: name of stalker (if you know), dates, times, locations, and specifics of stalking actions.
Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about what is going on.
Contact or visit your local crisis center. The crisis center can help you get a restraining order against your stalker, develop a safety plan, and provide you with more resources.
Find more information on how to protect yourself and other resources on our domestic violence page.
What if you would like a protective order?
If you would like to file in court for protection, you may file a civil stalking petition. If you are being stalked, you can get a protective order under the same procedures as victims of domestic violence. You do not have to have had any kind of relationship with the stalker to get protection. You should go to the District Court in either your county, or the county where the stalker lives. Find more information about protective orders, but let the clerk know you would like to file a civil stalking petition.
In a civil stalking petition, just as in the domestic violence petition, provide as much detail as possible about the dates, times, and locations the stalking has occurred. Describe each stalking incident in detail, especially any particularly disturbing actions and behaviors of the stalker. Be sure to include any previous or current history of contacts with the stalker or episodes of abuse in the petition.
Language
If English is your second language or you don’t speak any English, you have a right to request an interpreter to assist you with the police and in any court proceedings. Make sure to let the police and/or the court know that you need an interpreter to help you.