This bill amends the existing law on stalking in New Jersey by upgrading the crime from a fourth-degree to a third-degree offense when the stalking is facilitated through the installation or use of communication or location monitoring programs or devices on the victim's cellular phone or wireless mobile device. Specifically, the bill defines stalking as a crime of the third degree if the perpetrator's course of conduct involves intercepting or acquiring communications or location information from the victim's device. This change aims to address the growing concern over the misuse of technology in stalking cases.

Under the current law, stalking is generally classified as a fourth-degree crime, which carries penalties of up to 18 months in prison and fines up to $10,000. However, with the proposed amendments, the penalties for stalking that involves technological means would increase to a third-degree crime, punishable by three to five years of imprisonment and fines up to $15,000. The bill recognizes the prevalence of communication and location monitoring tools and seeks to deter their misuse in stalking situations, thereby enhancing protections for victims.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:12-10