How to Report Stalking: A Step-by-Step Guide

Before You Report: Get Safe and Get Organized

You don't need perfect evidence to report, but a little preparation makes a report clearer.

• Safety first. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
• Write a timeline of what has happened, in order, with dates and places.
• Save evidence: messages, voicemails, call logs, photos, and screenshots that show dates and sender details.
• Gather identifiers: the stalker's name, phone numbers, usernames, vehicle, and addresses if known.
• List witnesses who saw incidents or know the history.

Use our Evidence Auditor to check that your screenshots are complete, and read evidence that holds up in court.

Step 1: Report to Local Police

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and under federal law. Most reports start with the police department or sheriff's office where you live, work, or where incidents occurred.

• Call the non-emergency number or visit in person. Call 911 if the stalker is near you or you are in danger.
• State plainly that you are reporting stalking, and describe the pattern, not just the latest incident.
• Give the officer your timeline and evidence.
• Ask for a report number and the name and contact information of the officer.

Read how to report a stalker to the police for a script and a checklist.

Step 2: Report Online or Cross-State Stalking to the FBI

If the stalking happens online, across state lines, or involves a computer crime, you can also file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. The federal interstate stalking statute is described in the Department of Justice's overview. Learn more in how to report online stalking.

Step 3: Report to Platforms, Employers, and Schools

• Platforms: Report abusive accounts and content. Our Social Media Reporting Guide lists the steps.
• Employer: Tell HR or security if the stalker contacts you at work.
• School: Contact campus police or the dean of students if the stalker is a student or staff member.

Step 4: Ask About Protection

A police report is not the same as a protective order, but it can support one.

• Ask the officer how to request a protective order in your state.
• Ask whether a no-contact order can be issued if criminal charges are filed.
• Read protection against stalking and use the TRO Builder.

Step 5: Find Your State's Contacts

Agencies, order names, and procedures differ by state. Our State Reporting Guide links to official contacts, and the Office for Victims of Crime keeps a directory of services by state. Our guide, report stalking in your state, explains where to start.

Step 6: Follow Up

• Keep adding new incidents to your report using the report number.
• Keep your own copy of everything you submit.
• Ask about victim notification if charges are filed or someone is arrested.
• Update your safety plan.

What If the Police Don't Take It Seriously?

You still have options. Ask to speak with a supervisor, request that the report be taken in writing, and ask for a report number. Contact the prosecutor's victim-witness unit, and consider reporting to a different agency if appropriate. Keep your records and keep documenting. A pattern becomes harder to dismiss over time.

What to Expect From Each Agency

Different offices do different things, and knowing the difference reduces frustration.

• Police or sheriff: take your statement, collect evidence, create a report, and may investigate. They can tell you about protective orders and victim services.
• Prosecutor's office: decides whether to file charges and may have a victim-witness unit that explains your rights and the process.
• Courts: issue protective orders and handle criminal cases.
• FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center: collects reports of cyber-enabled crime. Its site notes that it cannot guarantee a response to every complaint, but that your report is still valuable (IC3).
• Platforms, employers, and schools: act under their own rules and can remove content, discipline people, and change access.

Using several channels at once is normal.

How Long It Takes and What Happens Next

There is no standard timeline. After a report, an officer or detective may follow up within days or weeks, a prosecutor may take longer to decide on charges, and court dates can be months out. Delays are frustrating and do not mean your report was ignored. Keep your report number, write down the name of every person you speak with, and follow up in writing. Our guide to how stalking cases move through the justice system explains each stage.

Reporting When You Fear Retaliation

Many victims worry that reporting will provoke the person. It is a legitimate concern, and it is a reason to plan, not a reason to stay silent. Before you report, tell a trusted person, prepare a safety plan, and think about where you will be if the person is contacted. Ask the police and prosecutor how and when the person will be notified, whether protective orders are available, and whether you can register for notifications when the person is released. If you are in danger at any point, call 911.

Reporting for Someone Else

You may want to report on behalf of a friend or family member who is being stalked. Ask the agency whether it accepts third-party reports. Often the person being stalked will need to give a statement, but you can help by sharing what you saw, sitting with them while they report, or helping them gather evidence. Respect their choices, and avoid contacting the stalker.

Keeping Your Own Case File

Whatever agency you contact, keep a folder with your report numbers, names, dates, copies of every document, and notes from each conversation. It becomes your memory when a case takes months. Store a copy where the stalker cannot reach it. Use our stalking log guide and the Evidence Auditor.

A Printable Reporting Checklist

Before you report, run through this list.

• A one-page timeline with dates, places, and what happened.
• Screenshots, messages, voicemails, and call logs, with dates and sender details visible.
• The person's name, phone numbers, usernames, vehicle, and addresses, if you know them.
• A list of witnesses and their contact details.
• Any earlier reports or court papers.
• A safe phone number and email where you can be reached.
• A trusted person who knows where you are going.
• Your questions about protective orders, victim services, and next steps.

Print it and take it with you. Use the Police Report tool to prepare.

Common Reasons Reports Stall

Reports can slow down for ordinary reasons: an investigator has a heavy caseload, evidence is hard to obtain, the person cannot be identified, or the conduct doesn't clearly meet your state's definition. When that happens, send a written follow-up, add new incidents with dates, and ask what evidence would help. Contact the prosecutor's victim-witness unit, and consider seeking a protective order, which has a different standard of proof. Don't assume a quiet report is a closed one.

Reporting is not a test of how brave you are. It is a way to put the pattern on the record when you are ready.

Sources and further reading

• Stalking (Office of Justice Programs)
• Stalking Victimization, 2019 (Bureau of Justice Statistics)
• Help in Your State (Office for Victims of Crime)
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)