(July 14, 2013 at 4:16 pm)Maelstrom Wrote:Stalking =/= Following.(July 14, 2013 at 2:20 pm)A Theist Wrote: Following somebody isn't a crime
If stalking someone is not a crime, then why do restraining orders exist?
Quote:According to the U.S. Department of Justice, stalking is defined as "a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear."
Source: http://www.safehorizon.org/index/get-hel...ng-71.html
Bolding is mine. Following someone is not illegal. It only becomes illegal (and "stalking") if the following is repeated over a period of time. If you witness a crime, you can follow the perpetrator and report to police about what they look like, where they went, maybe what car they got into, etc.