Stalking and Harassment

Stalking is the intentional and repeated following or harassing of another person that would cause a reasonable person to feel alarmed or to suffer emotional distress, including repeatedly showing up uninvited at the person's home, work or school. Harassing includes a repeated pattern of uninvited calls, email, messages through others, letters or pictures.

• §La. R.S. 14:40.2StatuteStalkingOpens legis.la.gov ↗

• A first conviction carries $500 to $1,000 and 30 days to 1 year, with a psychiatric evaluation.
• Stalking while a protective order or no contact order is in effect carries 90 days to 2 years, or up to $5,000, or both.
• A second conviction within 7 years carries 5 to 20 years.
• A stalking conviction cannot be expunged.

• §La. R.S. 14:40.2StatuteStalkingOpens legis.la.gov ↗

Cyberstalking is using email or electronic messages to threaten bodily harm, to extort, or to repeatedly threaten, terrify or harass someone, up to $2,000, up to 1 year, or both. Repeated calls or texts meant to abuse, torment or harass, or obscene ones, carry up to $500, up to 6 months, or both.

• §La. R.S. 14:40.3StatuteCyberstalkingOpens legis.la.gov ↗
• §La. R.S. 14:285StatuteUnlawful communications; telephones and telecommunications devices; improper language; harassment; penaltyOpens legis.la.gov ↗