N.J. Stat. » Title 2C — THE NEW JERSEY CODE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
New Jersey Statutes

N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10 (2026)

Definitions; stalking designated a crime; degrees

✓ current as of May 2026
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1. a. As used in this act:

(1) "Course of conduct" means repeatedly maintaining a visual or physical proximity to a person; directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, following, monitoring, observing, surveilling, threatening, or communicating to or about, a person, or interfering with a person's property; repeatedly committing harassment against a person; or repeatedly conveying, or causing to be conveyed, verbal or written threats or threats conveyed by any other means of communication or threats implied by conduct or a combination thereof directed at or toward a person.

(2) "Repeatedly" means on two or more occasions.

(3) "Emotional distress" means significant mental suffering or distress.

(4) "Cause a reasonable person to fear" means to cause fear which a reasonable victim, similarly situated, would have under the circumstances.

b. A person is guilty of stalking, a crime of the fourth degree, if he purposefully or knowingly engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his safety or the safety of a third person or suffer other emotional distress.

c. A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he commits the crime of stalking in violation of an existing court order prohibiting the behavior.

d. A person who commits a second or subsequent offense of stalking against the same victim is guilty of a crime of the third degree.

e. A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he commits the crime of stalking while serving a term of imprisonment or while on parole or probation as the result of a conviction for any indictable offense under the laws of this State, any other state or the United States.

f. This act shall not apply to conduct which occurs during organized group picketing.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 111 cases (62 in the last 5 years), 1997–2026 · leading case: State v. B.A., 205 A.3d 1130 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
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State v. B.A., 205 A.3d 1130 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). · cites it 10× “1 on N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(1) (2018). Relevant here, the 2009 amendment modified the "course of conduct" definition to add the language "communicating to or *407 about, a person" and included "indirect conduct, conduct through third parties, and repeated harassment.”
State v. Burkert, 174 A.3d 987 (N.J. 2017). “” See N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(a)(2) (defining “[r]epeatedly” as conduct “on two or more occasions” in the context of stalking); Webster’s Second New College Dictionary 939 (2d ed.”
State v. Gandhi, 989 A.2d 256 (N.J. 2010). “*178 [N.J.S.A 2C:12-10(b).] 8 The statute also defined “course of conduct” as “repeatedly maintaining a visual or physical proximity to a person or repeatedly conveying, or causing to be conveyed, verbal or written threats or threats conveyed by any other means of communication…”
Jaclyn Thompson v. Bd. of Trs., Teachers', 158 A.3d 1195 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017). “, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10 (defining criminal stalking in terms of what a "reasonable person" would fear).”
State v. Bailey, 176 A.3d 800 (N.J. 2018). “or a person having been convicted of a crime pursuant to the provisions of [N.J.S.A.] 2C:35-3 through [N.”
State v. Tung, 213 A.3d 231 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “2C:28-6(1) ; and fourth-degree stalking, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(b). 1 *234 The court sentenced defendant for murder to a life term, subject to more than sixty-three years of parole ineligibility under *81 the No Early Release Act, N.”
United States v. Saunders, 59 M.J. 1 (C.A.A.F. 2003). “); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:12-10 (West, LEXIS through May 8, 2003); N.”
State v. Bryant, 15 A.3d 865 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2011). “[N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(b) (version existing prior to revision adopted by L.”
Kamen v. Egan, 730 A.2d 873 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1999). “2C:14-2 (8) Criminal sexual conduct N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3 (9) Lewdness N.”
State v. Saunders, 695 A.2d 722 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1997). “On appeal, he contends: POINT I BECAUSE IT CONTAINS NUMEROUS UNDEFINED PHRASES, THE STALKING STATUTE, N.J.S.A 2C:12-10, IS VAGUE AND OVERBROAD IN *514 VIOLATION OF THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSES OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE CONSTITUTIONS.”
Hackley v. State, 866 A.2d 906 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2005). “Code Ann § 97-3-107; N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:12-10; N.C. GenStat § 14-277.”
State of New Jersey v. D.G.M., 110 A.3d 978 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015). “Stalking is defined as "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his [or her] safety or the safety of a third person or suffer other emotional distress," N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(b), and "[c]ourse of conduct" is defined, in…”
Show all 111 citing cases →
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(1) — 2 cases
State v. B.A., 205 A.3d 1130 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “1 on N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(1) (2018). Relevant here, the 2009 amendment modified the "course of conduct" definition to add the language "communicating to or *407 about, a person" and included "indirect conduct, conduct through third parties, and repeated harassment.”
State of New Jersey Vs. B.A. (13-08-2454, Camden Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(a) — 8 cases
State v. B.A., 205 A.3d 1130 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “1 on N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(1) (2018). Relevant here, the 2009 amendment modified the "course of conduct" definition to add the language "communicating to or *407 about, a person" and included "indirect conduct, conduct through third parties, and repeated harassment.”
State of New Jersey Vs. B.A. (13-08-2454, Camden Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
L.G. Vs. T.G. (fv-13-0623-18, Monmouth Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
A.B. Vs. W.C. (fv-09-1876-18, Hudson Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
A.M. Vs. M.H.A.H. (fv-07-3276-18, Essex Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(a)(1) — 12 cases
State v. B.A., 205 A.3d 1130 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “1 on N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(1) (2018). Relevant here, the 2009 amendment modified the "course of conduct" definition to add the language "communicating to or *407 about, a person" and included "indirect conduct, conduct through third parties, and repeated harassment.”
State of New Jersey Vs. B.A. (13-08-2454, Camden Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
State of New Jersey Vs. Bruce v. Davis, Jr. (17-05-0345, Gloucester Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
D.C.A. Vs. M.j.a.(l-1026-15, Morris Cnty. & Statewide)(record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2017).
A.B. Vs. W.C. (fv-09-1876-18, Hudson Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(a)(2) — 8 cases
State v. Burkert, 174 A.3d 987 (N.J. 2017). “” See N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(a)(2) (defining “[r]epeatedly” as conduct “on two or more occasions” in the context of stalking); Webster’s Second New College Dictionary 939 (2d ed.”
State of New Jersey Vs. June Gorthy (15-04-0571, Monmouth Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2021).
L.H. v. S.H. (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
S.H.H. v. M.A.D. (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
M.P.M. v. K.S. (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(a)(4) — 4 cases
M.F.Y. v. D.T.Y. (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2026).
State of New Jersey Vs. Bruce v. Davis, Jr. (17-05-0345, Gloucester Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
State v. Calvin Fair (N.J. 2024).
State of New Jersey v. Kelvin Briggs (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2025).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(a)(4)(B) — 1 case
Trapp v. Van Jura (D.N.J. 2022).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(b) — 56 cases
State v. Gandhi, 989 A.2d 256 (N.J. 2010). “*178 [N.J.S.A 2C:12-10(b).] 8 The statute also defined “course of conduct” as “repeatedly maintaining a visual or physical proximity to a person or repeatedly conveying, or causing to be conveyed, verbal or written threats or threats conveyed by any other means of communication…”
State v. Tung, 213 A.3d 231 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “2C:28-6(1) ; and fourth-degree stalking, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(b). 1 *234 The court sentenced defendant for murder to a life term, subject to more than sixty-three years of parole ineligibility under *81 the No Early Release Act, N.”
State v. B.A., 205 A.3d 1130 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “1 on N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(1) (2018). Relevant here, the 2009 amendment modified the "course of conduct" definition to add the language "communicating to or *407 about, a person" and included "indirect conduct, conduct through third parties, and repeated harassment.”
State v. Bryant, 15 A.3d 865 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2011). “[N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(b) (version existing prior to revision adopted by L.”
State of New Jersey v. D.G.M., 110 A.3d 978 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015). “Stalking is defined as "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his [or her] safety or the safety of a third person or suffer other emotional distress," N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(b), and "[c]ourse of conduct" is defined, in…”
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(c) — 14 cases
State v. B.A., 205 A.3d 1130 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “1 on N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10(1) (2018). Relevant here, the 2009 amendment modified the "course of conduct" definition to add the language "communicating to or *407 about, a person" and included "indirect conduct, conduct through third parties, and repeated harassment.”
State v. McCray, 205 A.3d 1178 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
State of New Jersey Vs. B.A. (13-08-2454, Camden Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
Marte v. Attorney Gen. of the United States, 417 F. App'x 216 (3rd Cir. 2011).
State of New Jersey Vs. Jamar T. Jenkins (15-10-3023, Camden Cnty. & Statewide) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
— N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10(e) — 2 cases
State of New Jersey Vs. David S. Hohsfield (13-09-2357, 15-04-0735 & 15-04-0736, Ocean Cnty. & Statewide) (record Impounded) (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2020).
State of New Jersey v. Raphael Lolos (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2025).
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