Representative Mark Falzone and Minority Leader Richard Tisei announced that the Stalking Protection Bill, which enables stalking victims to file for restraining orders without having had a prior relationship with their stalker, has been signed into law. This new legislation provides additional protection for our citizens by providing that once a person commits three or more acts of willful and malicious conduct against a specific person with the purpose of causing fear, intimidating or abusing them, or damaging property, the victim can take out a restraining order.

Representative Falzone stated, “This is an extremely important piece of legislation. Ensuring that all residents of the Commonwealth are protected is essential to our security and quality of life as a community. I am very pleased that this legislation, which will help to save many lives, has now become law.”

This legislation was created in large part because of the death of Sandra Berfield, a waitress from Everett who was stalked and killed by a customer ten years ago. Before she was killed, she had attempted to get a restraining order and was unable to obtain one because her stalker was not family or a member of her household. The bill was passed by the Massachusetts State Senate in November 2009, by the House of Representatives in January 2010, and was signed by the governor on Tuesday, February 4, 2010.