What constitutes a course of conduct for stalking purposes?

For stalking purposes, a "course of conduct" is defined as two or more acts directed at a specific person. This definition recognizes that stalking is not isolated to a single incident but instead encompasses ongoing actions that create a pattern of behavior intended to intimidate, harass, or frighten the targeted individual.

This understanding is critical because it emphasizes the cumulative impact of repeated behaviors on the victim. One isolated act, no matter how threatening, may not meet the legal definition of stalking; it is the combination of multiple acts that collectively indicate a serious level of concern regarding the perpetrator's intentions and the effect on the victim's safety and mental well-being. This allows law enforcement and legal entities to recognize and address the harmful patterns that typically characterize stalking behaviors.

The other options do not align with this definition as they either focus on a single act or limit the scope of conduct to specific types of actions, which may not capture the full nature of stalking behavior. Additionally, considering a stalker’s personal history does not constitute the acts themselves directed at the victim. Therefore, the focus remains on the behavior directed towards another individual to establish a course of conduct for stalking.