---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2261A"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2261A"
heading: "Stalking"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2261A"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 110A — Domestic Violence and Stalking"
---

# §2261A. Stalking


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1)—

- (1) travels in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2) or is present within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or enters or leaves [Indian country](/usc/18/2266.md?p=4), with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel or presence engages in conduct that—
  - (A) places that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) in reasonable fear of the death of, or [serious bodily injury](/usc/18/2246.md?p=4) to—
    - (i) that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5);
    - (ii) an immediate family member (as defined in [section 115](/usc/18/115.md)) of that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5);
    - (iii) a [spouse or intimate partner](/usc/18/2266.md?p=7) of that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5); or
    - (iv) the [pet](/usc/18/2266.md?p=11), [service animal](/usc/18/2266.md?p=13), [emotional support animal](/usc/18/2266.md?p=12), or horse of that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5); or
  - (B) causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) described in clause [(i)](#1-A-i), [(ii)](#1-A-ii), or [(iii)](#1-A-iii) of subparagraph (A); or
- (2) with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), uses the mail, any interactive [computer](/usc/18/2256.md?p=6) service or [electronic communication service](/usc/18/2510.md?p=15) or [electronic communication](/usc/18/2510.md?p=12) system of interstate [commerce](/usc/18/232.md?p=2), or any other facility of [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2) to engage in a [course of conduct](/usc/18/2266.md?p=2) that—
  - (A) places that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) in reasonable fear of the death of or [serious bodily injury](/usc/18/2246.md?p=4) to a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), a [pet](/usc/18/2266.md?p=11), a [service animal](/usc/18/2266.md?p=13), an [emotional support animal](/usc/18/2266.md?p=12), or a horse described in clause [(i)](#1-A-i), [(ii)](#1-A-ii), [(iii)](#1-A-iii), or [(iv)](#1-A-iv) of paragraph (1)(A); or
  - (B) causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) described in clause [(i)](#1-A-i), [(ii)](#1-A-ii), or [(iii)](#1-A-iii) of paragraph (1)(A),

  shall be punished as provided in [section 2261(b)](/usc/18/2261.md?p=b) or [section 2261B](/usc/18/2261B.md), as the case may be.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1069(a), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2655; amended Pub. L. 106–386, div. B, title I, § 1107(b)(1), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1498; Pub. L. 109–162, title I, § 114(a), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 2987; Pub. L. 113–4, title I, § 107(b), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 77; Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12502(a)(1), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4982; Pub. L. 116–249, § 2(c), Dec. 22, 2020, 134 Stat. 1126.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–249 substituted “section 2261(b) or section 2261B, as the case may be” for “section 2261(b) of this title” in concluding provisions.

2018—Par. (1)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12502(a)(1)(A), added cl. (iv).

Par. (2)(A). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12502(a)(1)(B), inserted “, a pet, a service animal, an emotional support animal, or a horse” after “to a person” and substituted “(iii), or (iv)” for “or (iii)”.

2013—Pub. L. 113–4 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to stalking.

2006—Pub. L. 109–162 amended section catchline and text generally, revising and restating former provisions relating to stalking so as to include surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate which results in substantial emotional distress to a person within the purview of the offense proscribed.

2000—Pub. L. 106–386 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Whoever travels across a State line or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States with the intent to injure or harass another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365(g)(3) of this title) to, that person or a member of that person’s immediate family (as defined in section 115 of this title) shall be punished as provided in section 2261 of this title.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2013 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–4 not effective until the beginning of the fiscal year following Mar. 7, 2013, see section 4 of Pub. L. 113–4, set out as a note under section 2261 of this title.