What happened to you may be a federal crime. Most survivors - and most family law attorneys - don't know that.​
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Family court is a civil proceeding. A family court judge can issue a protective order. They cannot send someone to federal prison.
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Installing surveillance software on your device without consent, accessing your email or financial accounts without authorization, using digital tools to stalk and monitor you across state lines -- in many cases, these are federal crimes. Multiple federal crimes. Crimes that carry prison sentences and federal records.
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This guide names the laws, explains what each one covers, and tells you where to take what you know.
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​What's Inside​
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•Plain-language explanations of the federal statutes that cover stalkerware installation, unauthorized account access, cyberstalking, GPS tracking, financial surveillance, and recording without consent
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•State-level equivalents and how they interact with federal law
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•Why federal jurisdiction almost always applies -- even if both parties are in the same city
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•How to report to the FBI and file an IC3 complaint
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•How to talk to law enforcement when they don't know what the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act is
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•How civil family court and criminal prosecution can run simultaneously
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•A quick reference table: abuse type → federal statute → reporting pathway
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​Who This Is For​
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Survivors of technology-facilitated abuse who want to understand what legal options exist beyond family court -- including federal criminal pathways most family law attorneys won't mention because they don't practice criminal law.
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​What This Is Not​
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This is not legal advice. The purpose of this information is to help you have an informed conversation with law enforcement or a criminal attorney. Always consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before taking legal action.
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​Format​
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PDF, delivered immediately. Includes a printable quick reference table. No legal background required.
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