<P> California was the first state to criminalize stalking in the United States in 1990 as a result of numerous high - profile stalking cases in California , including the 1982 attempted murder of actress Theresa Saldana , the 1988 massacre by Richard Farley , the 1989 murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer , and five Orange County stalking murders , also in 1989 . The first anti-stalking law in the United States , California Penal Code Section 646.9 , was developed and proposed by Municipal Court Judge John Watson of Orange County . Watson with U.S. Congressman Ed Royce introduced the law in 1990 . Also in 1990 , the Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ) began the United States ' first Threat Management Unit , founded by LAPD Captain Robert Martin . </P>
<P> California was the first state to criminalize stalking in the United States in 1990 as a result of numerous high - profile stalking cases in California , including the 1982 attempted murder of actress Theresa Saldana , the 1988 massacre by Richard Farley , the 1989 murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer , and five Orange County stalking murders , also in 1989 . The first anti-stalking law in the United States , California Penal Code Section 646.9 , was developed and proposed by Municipal Court Judge John Watson of Orange County . Watson with U.S. Congressman Ed Royce introduced the law in 1990 . Also in 1990 , the Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ) began the United States ' first Threat Management Unit , founded by LAPD Captain Robert Martin . </P>
when was the first anti stalking law passed
when was the first anti stalking law passed
1990
1990