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Stalking

What is Stalking?

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Stalking can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. In this packet you will find information, and resources you can use to learn more about stalking. 

No one deserves to be stalked. 

Stalking is a crime of repeatedly following or harassing an individual that causes the individual to fear injury or death due to implied threats. Stalking is often a form of escalation in domestic violence. Perpetrators use stalking as a way to gain control over their victims. If other ways of gaining control are failing, stalking may be a different way for a perpetrator to exert their power. 

Types of Stalking 

Cyberstalking

Individuals using the internet to stalk or harass victims. This could include creating false profiles in the victim's name or fake name, monitoring internet usage and location, posting false information, etc. 

Phone Stalking

Individuals sending unwanted texts or calls multiple times during any hour of the day. These communications can include manipulation, explicit content, threats, etc. 

Physical Stalking

Individuals following their victims anywhere (especially home or place of business), vandalizing the victim’s property, leaving gifts, attacking the victim, etc. 

Barriers for Marginalized Communities 

Members of marginalized communities include people whose unique values, customs, or beliefs are NOT fully accepted into the larger group. They are often alienated, pushed to the side, over-looked, or underrepresented. These communities often encounter barriers that prevent them from achieving their full potential or receiving services related to domestic violence and sexual assault. 

Police inaction, hostility, and dismissiveness

The fear that police will not believe the survivor, blame survivors for the stalking, or that police involvement will escalate the stalking 

Police bias

Unfairness targeted toward particular groups of people or with regard to stalking 

 

Collateral consequences

Fear that the actions of police may cause involvement of Immigration; loss of housing/income, or arrest of the survivor 

Concern about cultural competency

Survivors may fear that they will not be understood in the context of their culture by stalking advocates or other service providers 

Cultural identity/hierarchy

A strong personal identification based on familial structure, (e.g. gender roles)

Stereotype Threat

The concern that negative stereotypes about one's group will be confirmed by their behavior/report 

Safety Planning 

Safety planning is a necessary and important step for someone experiencing stalking and can be used while the stalking is happening. Safety should be a top priority. We may not have control over stalkers, but we do have a choice on how to respond to them and the knowledge for how to best get ourselves to safety. 

Pay attention to details, such as what the stalker looks like or what they are driving, or the license plate of the car

Let trusted friends, neighbors, and coworkers know of your situation and develop a plan and visual signals or code words to indicate you need help 

Take notes of the stalking events as soon as you can while events are still fresh in your mind

Don't engage the stalker to avoid escalation; don't agree to meet to talk to them

Don't answer any blocked or unknown numbers; let it go to voicemail

If possible audio record any answered phone calls

Don't respond to any calls, texts, or letters, especially if they are persistent

Keep texts, call logs, emails, DMs, letters, or items left as evidence