January is National Stalking Awareness Month

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, and The Safe Place would like to take this opportunity to educate our community on the issues of stalking, including promoting awareness and prevention.

The United States Department of Justice defines the term stalking as “engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.”

Based on the fact sheet provided by the Stalking Prevention Awareness and resource Center (SPARC)

• 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking victimization in their lifetimes.
• Less than 40% of stalking victims report to law enforcement
• 1 in 7 stalking victims move as a result of their victimization
• The vast majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know

-57% current or former intimate partners

-29% acquaintances

-15% strangers

-8% family members

2% people of authority

• 2/3 of stalkers pursue their victims at least once per week.  Many pursue daily.
• 20% of stalkers use weapons to threaten or harm victims

Stalking is a crime under the laws of 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories, and the Federal government.

Examples of concerning behaviors that may be signs of stalking:

Making unwanted phone calls

Sending unsolicited or unwanted letters or emails

Following or spying on the victim

Showing up at places without a legitimate reason

Waiting at places for the victim

Leaving unwanted presents

Posting information or spreading rumors about the victim

 

Things you can do if you fear you are being stalked:  trust your instincts, do not communicate with the stalker, take threats seriously, develop a safety plan that may include changing your routine, keep evidence and documentation of the stalking, and tell people; family, friends, and coworkers.

 

If you feel you are in immediate danger call 911!

 

At times, victims of domestic violence may find their abuser stalks them to see where they are and who they are talking to.  If you are a domestic violence victim and feel you are being stalked by your abuser please reach out for help.  Contact The Safe Place at 501-354-1884 or 1-888-554-2501.  The Safe Place also has a location in Perryville at 501-889-2030.  We are here to help.

 

References

1 Smith, S.G., Zhang, X., Basile, K.C., Merrick, M.T., Wang, J., Kresnow, M., Chen, J. (2018). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2015 Data Brief. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2 Smith, S.G., Chen, J., Basile, K.C., Gilbert, L.K., Merrick, M.T., Patel, N., Walling, M., & Jain, A. (2017). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010-2012 State Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3 Baum, K., Catalano, S., Rand, M. (2009). Stalking Victimization in the United States. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. 4 Mohandie, K., Meloy, J.R., McGowan, M.G., & Williams, J. (2006). The RECON Typology of Stalking: Reliability and Validity Based upon a Large Sample of North American Stalkers. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 51 (1), 147-