Just Legislative action
Legislative goals
Just Stalking has researched legislative policies and agendas throughout the country on local and national levels to model its agenda after legislation that has passed and that has already been proposed. The goals are to enhance laws in Maryland to better serve victims, not to be punitive.
Take action
Please consider contacting us, or your local representative to voice your interest and concern regarding enhancements to our laws to better support and protect victims.
"THE TRUTH IS, GLITCHES EXIST IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, INCREASING VICTIMS' RISK FOR VIOLENCE. SOMETIMES, INADVERTENTLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND JUDICIAL SYSTEMS MAY REFUEL THE STALKER'S OBSESSION WITH THE VICTIM, THEREBY ESCALATING THE STALKING PROCESS."
Schell and Lanteigne, 2000, p. 154
Just A safer community in 2026: Bills passed by the MD State
Enhanced Stalking Penalties
Enhanced Stalking Penalties
Enhanced Stalking Penalties
SB 512 (CH 429) increases the penalties for stalking to a period of imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to $10,000 or both only if the victim had a protective order in effect at the time of the offense or the defendant had previously been convicted of stalking. Unfortunately, this has no effect if the victim only has a Peace Order, unless the defendant is convicted of stalking. This law will go into effect on October 1, 2026.
Protecting Victim Identity
Enhanced Stalking Penalties
Enhanced Stalking Penalties
SB 294 (CH 542) protects sexual assault and stalking victims by prohibiting a court or a party in a criminal or juvenile delinquency case from disclosing or allowing inspection of the court filing or record to a nonparty unless certain identifying information relating to the victim is redacted, subject to a specific exception for a specified health occupation board. This law will protect all victims of stalking whether they have a Protective or Peace Order. It will go into effect on October 1, 2026.
Protecting Victims’ Votes
Enhanced Stalking Penalties
Protecting Victims’ Votes
SB 91(CH 109) requires the State Board of Elections to designate a contact person for the Address Confidentiality Program. That person acts as the contact for inquiries about the Program from local boards of elections and Program participants on matters related to the implementation of the Address Confidentiality Program. This law will go into effect on June 1, 2026.
Just Stalking Goals include Advocating for…
Laws Against Proxy Stalking
Aiding and abetting a stalker, known as "proxy stalking," is the assistance of a third party in the primary stalker's pursuit of their victim/target. While some may be unaware of the stalker's motive(s), many are well-informed and are willing participants. We are advocating for a law that would exact penalties for intentional assistance in the act of stalking, similar to other accessory laws.
Better Peace Orders
Many stalking victims in the state of Maryland may only be eligible for a Peace Order, which is only valid for six months. If the victim and respondent are not family members sharing a residence, or the victim has not been sexually assaulted, they are not eligible for more robust Protective Order or for a more permanent Peace Order. Although they can be extended for an additional six months, if there is another incident, a new one must be issued. If the stalking persists for an extended time (years), repeated court visits are disruptive, financially burdensome, and re-traumatizing. Stalking lasts an average of two years, but can recur as many as 15 years later, thus we advocate for victims to be eligible for permanent Peace orders.
A MD Victim’s Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA)
A MD Victim’s Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA)
Victim’s Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) is an Illinois state law that protects employees by allowing them the needed time to recover from IPV and stalking. Victims often require physical or mental health care, and legal or relocation services following such incidents, and if a family member is killed violently, employers are required to provide up to 2 weeks bereavement leave. In addition, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations for employee’s safety. Finally, Employers are forbidden to terminate, demote, or otherwise retaliate. Only eight states provide similar legal protections for such victims Without these protections, victims may not have enough vacation or sick leave to 'accommodate' a stalking 'incident' (Rothman, et al., 2007).
A Registry for Offenders
Enhanced Penalties for Aggravated Stalking
A MD Victim’s Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA)
The bill, HB 1363, as currently proposed, would only require domestic violence offenders to register with a supervising authority, if the person is convicted of at least two domestically related crimes, not other stalking offenses, despite the high recidivism rates of all types of stalking which is estimated at 32% at 5 years and 74% at 20 years. In light of these numbers, we believe a registry would allow for better monitoring of recurrent and even persistent stalking.
Enhanced Penalties for Aggravated Stalking
Enhanced Penalties for Aggravated Stalking
Enhanced Penalties for Aggravated Stalking
Some states have differentiated between stalking and aggravated stalking, thereby elevating the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony. Eligible circumstances include when there is a "credible threat," use of a weapon, or stalking of a minor. In these circumstances the stalking charge would be moved up to "aggravated stalking," with enhanced penalties.
If I were SUCCESSFULLY murdered by [my stalker] when he comes out, I wonder if the same people who say there's nothing they can do will just shrug their shoulders and say, 'gee that's really a shame. We knew all along this would happen.
Gross, 2012, p. 193-194
