Washington legal term
Stalking in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Stalking” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Washington criminal code.
What does “Stalking” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Stalking" means any of the following: (a) Any act of stalking as defined under RCW 9A.46.110; (b) Any act of cyber harassment as defined under RCW 9A.90.120; or (c) Any course of conduct involving repeated or continuing contacts, attempts to contact, monitoring, tracking, surveillance, keeping under observation, disrupting activities in a harassing manner, or following of another person that: (i) Would cause a reasonable person to feel intimidated, frightened, under duress, significantly disrupted, or threatened and that actually causes such a feeling; (ii) Serves no lawful purpose; and (iii) (RCW 7.105.010)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.