Delaware’s legislature has approved new legislation that significantly strengthens the state’s stalking laws by expanding definitions and imposing harsher criminal penalties on offenders.
The legislation broadens what constitutes a “course of conduct” under Delaware’s stalking statutes, giving prosecutors more tools to address threatening behavior patterns. At the same time, the law includes safeguards requiring courts to exclude evidence if they determine the alleged conduct falls under constitutionally protected activities.
Under the new penalties, certain stalking violations will now carry much stiffer consequences. Offenses previously classified as class F felonies will be elevated to class D felonies, while other violations will jump from class G to class E felony status.
The measure also includes technical language updates to bring the stalking statutes in line with current Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual standards.
