Cases involving former intimates with a history of domestic violence, for example, require particular sensi-tivity to the needs of the victim and her safety. The stalker may feel intense attraction to the victim or extreme hatred. Since it was formed in 1990, the Threat Management Unit within the Los Angeles Police Department has found that stalkers come from all walks of life. Many cease their activity when confronted by police intervention, but many do not. These elements are discussed below.
Some States stipulate the requisite number of acts.
For example, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and North Carolina require the stalker to commit two or more acts on different occasions. Most States require that the stalker pose a threat or act in a way that causes a reasonable person to feel fearful. Intent of the Stalker To be convicted of stalking in most States, the stalker must display a criminal intent to cause fear in the victim. Many States do not require proof that the defendant intended to cause fear as long as he intended to commit the act that resulted in fear. In these States, if the victim is reasonably fright-ened by the alleged perpetrator's conduct, the intent element of the crime has been met.