Understand Your Rights and Protect Your Safety with the Help of a Stalking Attorney
Often, when clients meet attorney Jeffrey W. Goldblatt at our offices in Freehold or East Brunswick, NJ, to discuss filing a restraining order against someone by whom they feel stalked or harassed, they are unclear or unaware of what legally constitutes the illegal act. With the advent of social media and modern technology, many are unaware that a crime can be committed without physically following and monitoring another party's activities. Due to the complexity of some of these cases, consulting a stalking attorney is strongly encouraged. To schedule a consultation, please contact us online or call (732) 238-8700.
In the state of New Jersey, stalking is considered a serious offense. In order to ensure your safety, it is advised that you notify family, friends, and those close to you about the situation, and avoid any type of interaction with the stalker.
What is Stalking?
Stalking may not always be a single act perpetrated by a single person, but may often include numerous incidents involving someone who has willfully and maliciously repeated unwanted instances of criminal harassment. If you feel that someone is intimidating or threatening you, immediately begin collecting any evidence of these actions. Often, a stalker will leave unwanted gifts, voicemails, and other evidence that can be used against them. To help us build a successful case, victims should:
- Collect records of emails, phone conversations, and in-person confrontations.
- Keep a journal describing how your interaction and communication made you feel. Use details to describe if you felt scared, threatened, or concerned.
- Collect any physical gifts, including letters, flowers, and other items.
Examples of Stalking
In the past, stalking was considered the physical act of secretly following or monitoring someone without their permission, or in a threatening and alarming manner. However, the act of stalking and harassment, as defined by the state of New Jersey, may include other acts, including:
- The monitoring of electronic devices such as a computer, phone, or GPS device
- Sending unwanted notes, letters, text messages, and gifts
- Secretly observing or showing up without permission at a person’s private residence or place of work
- Gathering personal information using private and public records
Why You Should Speak with an Attorney
Although there is no federal law that makes stalking a crime, every state has statutes that make it illegal. In the state of New Jersey, stalking is defined as “a pattern of malicious behavior, intended to cause fear or apprehension in another individual." If you feel threatened, attorney Jeffrey Goldblatt can inform you of your legal rights and help you obtain a restraining order, if it is determined that this is the best course of action.
Contact Us Today
In the state of New Jersey, stalking is considered a serious offense. In order to ensure your safety, it is advised that you notify family, friends, and those close to you about the situation, and avoid any type of interaction with the stalker. You should also meet with an attorney as soon as possible to find out if there is a legal basis for limiting the actions of the accused. To learn more about your options, please message us or give us a call at (732)238-8700 and set up a consultation.
