Restraining Orders

Harassment is a pattern of intentional, substantial, and unreasonable intrusions into your private life that serve no legitimate purpose and would cause a “reasonable person” to suffer mental or emotional distress. Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

• following you;
• verbal, written, or electronic contact;
• visual or physical contact that takes place after you have told the person not to contact you or after you filed an incident report with the police;
• staying around or doing surveillance of your home, workplace, school, or other place you regularly go; or
• vandalism and property damage.¹

Stalking is a pattern of words or conduct that serves no legitimate purpose and is intended to cause, and does cause, you to reasonably fear that you or your family member will be:

• killed;
• assaulted;
• injured;
• criminally sexually abused;
• kidnapped; or
• subjected to property damage.²

Note: A “pattern” means two or more acts; “family member” means your spouse, child, parent, sibling, or a person who regularly lives in the same household with you.³

¹ S.C. Code § 16-3-1700(A), (B)
² S.C. Code § 16-3-1700(C)
³ S.C. Code § 16-3-1700(D), (E)