Stalking is generally a course conduct directed toward a specific person (or the person’s family, friends, or work associates) that would cause a reasonable person to be in fear of their safety, health, or well-being. Stalking includes (1) spying on a person; (2) waiting at a location to make unwanted contact with the victim, or to monitor the victim; (3) leaving unwanted items and gifts for the victim; and (4) posting or disseminating information or rumors about the victim on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.

Stalkers may also use technology to harass their victim. Common forms of cyberstalking include:

• e-mail spoofing—sending e-mails pretending to be the victim

• text messaging and sexting (sending sexually explicit text messages or photos)

• social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)—creating social media accounts and posting statements to harass, threaten, or denigrate the victim, or to impersonate the victim on social media

• online impersonation of the victim through a false identity or account to place online sex ads or solicit sex

• use of GPS to track the victim, including placing a GPS device on the victim’s car.

Stalking is a crime under federal law (18 U.S.C. §2261A) and in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories, and many Indian Tribes. In addition to stalking laws, every state has laws addressing electronic harassment, and federal law also criminalizes the use of technology to stalk (18 U.S.C. §2261A(2)). Legal definitions for stalking and harassment vary from state to state and in the federal system—especially regarding the stalker’s intent and the nature of the victim’s fear or emotional distress caused by the stalking.

In Connecticut, stalking is considered a serious criminal offense and is defined under various degrees of severity. The state's statutes categorize stalking based on the behavior's intensity and the threat it poses to the victim. Stalking behaviors can include repeatedly following someone, lying in wait, surveilling, harassing, or sending unwanted gifts, among other actions that cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others. Connecticut law also addresses cyberstalking, which encompasses the use of electronic communication or devices to harass or track an individual without their consent. This includes email spoofing, sexting, misuse of social media, online impersonation, and the use of GPS tracking devices. The state's laws are designed to protect individuals from both physical and electronic forms of stalking, aligning with federal law (18 U.S.C. §2261A) which criminalizes stalking, including the use of technology to carry out such behaviors. Victims of stalking in Connecticut have legal recourse and can seek protection through the criminal justice system, which may include restraining orders and criminal charges against the perpetrator.