eLaws of Florida

  SECTION 784.048. Stalking; definitions; penalties.  


Latest version.
  • 1(1) 2As used in this section, the term:
    9(a) 10“Harass” means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person which causes substantial emotional distress to that person and serves no legitimate purpose.
    37(b) 38“Course of conduct” means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, which evidences a continuity of purpose. The term does not include constitutionally protected activity such as picketing or other organized protests.
    80(c) 81“Credible threat” means a verbal or nonverbal threat, or a combination of the two, including threats delivered by electronic communication or implied by a pattern of conduct, which places the person who is the target of the threat in reasonable fear for his or her safety or the safety of his or her family members or individuals closely associated with the person, and which is made with the apparent ability to carry out the threat to cause such harm. It is not necessary to prove that the person making the threat had the intent to actually carry out the threat. The present incarceration of the person making the threat is not a bar to prosecution under this section.
    199(d) 200“Cyberstalk” means:
    2021. 203To engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person; or
    2392. 240To access, or attempt to access, the online accounts or Internet-connected home electronic systems of another person without that person’s permission,

    261causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.

    273(2) 274A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits the offense of stalking, a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 303775.082 304or s. 306775.083307.
    308(3) 309A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person and makes a credible threat to that person commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 347775.082, 348s. 349775.083, 350or s. 352775.084353.
    354(4) 355A person who, after an injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence pursuant to s. 374784.046, 375or an injunction for protection against domestic violence pursuant to s. 386741.30, 387or after any other court-imposed prohibition of conduct toward the subject person or that person’s property, knowingly, willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 431775.082, 432s. 433775.083, 434or s. 436775.084437.
    438(5) 439A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks a child under 16 years of age commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 474775.082, 475s. 476775.083, 477or s. 479775.084480.
    481(6) 482A law enforcement officer may arrest, without a warrant, any person that he or she has probable cause to believe has violated this section.
    506(7) 507A person who, after having been sentenced for a violation of s. 519794.011, 520s. 521800.04, 522or s. 524847.0135(5) 525and prohibited from contacting the victim of the offense under s. 536921.244, 537willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks the victim commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 564775.082, 565s. 566775.083, 567or s. 569775.084570.
    571(8) 572The punishment imposed under this section shall run consecutive to any former sentence imposed for a conviction for any offense under s. 594794.011, 595s. 596800.04, 597or s. 599847.0135(5)600.
    601(9)(a) 602The sentencing court shall consider, as a part of any sentence, issuing an order restraining the defendant from any contact with the victim, which may be valid for up to 10 years, as determined by the court. It is the intent of the Legislature that the length of any such order be based upon the seriousness of the facts before the court, the probability of future violations by the perpetrator, and the safety of the victim and his or her family members or individuals closely associated with the victim.
    691(b) 692The order may be issued by the court even if the defendant is sentenced to a state prison or a county jail or even if the imposition of the sentence is suspended and the defendant is placed on probation.
History.-s. 1, ch. 92-208; s. 29, ch. 94-134; s. 29, ch. 94-135; s. 2, ch. 97-27; s. 23, ch. 2002-55; s. 1, ch. 2003-23; s. 3, ch. 2004-17; s. 3, ch. 2004-256; s. 17, ch. 2008-172; s. 2, ch. 2012-153; s. 31, ch. 2019-167.

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