Stalking: Unwanted Pursuit and Fear

De Clérambault Syndrome brought attention to the problem of erotomanic stalkers. Over 100 years later, research has delineated other types of stalkers besides the classic erotomanic type. Before the 1990s, stalking was not clearly recognized as a crime. In the mid-1990s, a surge of valuable research on stalking emerged, resulting in significant advances to the understanding of stalking behaviors and risk assessment. Currently, all 50 states have antistalking statutes. Antistalking laws typically consist of three components: a pattern of unwanted pursuit, an implicit or explicit threat, and an intent to induce fear in the victim. This review covers basic concepts in stalking risk assessment and risk management. The 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Counterman v. Colorado is discussed, along with its potential to alter many states' legal obligations for the burden of prosecution in stalking cases.