Harassment And Stalking
Wis. Stat. 940.32 — a course of 2 or more acts causing serious emotional distress, a Class I felony
Harassment: a forfeiture first. Striking, shoving or kicking someone, or threatening to, or a course of conduct that harasses or intimidates and serves no legitimate purpose, done to harass or intimidate, is a Class B forfeiture, up to $1,000. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor with a credible threat that puts the victim in reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm, together with an order or injunction limiting contact with the victim.
Stalking is a Class I felony: intentionally carrying out a course of conduct aimed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person serious emotional distress, or fear of injury or death to themselves or family or household, knowing or having reason to know it will, and actually causing it. "Serious emotional distress" means feeling terrified, intimidated, threatened, harassed or tormented.
- Keeping close to or confronting the victim, or showing up at the victim's work or home.
- Calls, texts, messages, email or posts, or making the victim's phone ring or notify repeatedly, whether or not anyone answers.
- Photographing, recording or electronically monitoring the victim, wherever it happens.
- Contacting the victim's family, employer, coworkers or friends to get or spread information about the victim.
- Leaving objects on the victim's property.
A course of conduct is 2 or more acts showing a continuity of purpose. Stalking rises to a Class H felony when the victim is under 18, among other circumstances, and to a Class F felony when it causes bodily harm or involves a dangerous weapon.
Sources for this section (3)
- Wis. Stat. 947.013 — Harassment
- Wis. Stat. 940.32 — Stalking
- Wis. Stat. 939.52 — Classification of forfeitures
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.