Stalking: Know it, Name it, Stop it

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January 2021 is National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM). It is a yearly reminder that education and outreach is an important part of recognizing and addressing criminal stalking, or to Know It, Name It, Stop It. (1)

So, how do you know if you or a loved one is a victim of stalking?

Know It.

Stalking is a crime across the United States.(2) While stalking laws vary from state to state,(3) stalking is generally defined as a pattern of behavior (instead of a single incident) directed at a specific person, and the actions of the stalker cause the victim (and/or their loved ones) to feel fear.(4)

Because of media portrayals, when most people think of stalking they imagine a young woman being followed and monitored by a stranger hiding in the shadows or bushes. While some stalking cases may mirror this stereotype, this does not encompass all forms of stalking. For instance, nearly 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking.(5) Furthermore, while the highest rate of stalking does happens among adults between the ages of 18 and 24,(6) stalking also occurs among older adults.(7) Lastly, the majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know, rather than a stranger.(8) In fact, nearly 70% of all victims know the stalker in some capacity, 20% can identify the stalker as a former intimate partner and 15% as a friend, roommate, or neighbor. (9)

Not all stalking may seem the same because stalkers are often tailoring their behavior to cause fear to a specific victim, or a victim’s friends and family. What may not be scary to you may be a threat to a victim’s sense of safety. The important thing to remember is that sometimes only the victim and stalker may understand the hidden meaning behind certain words or actions, which is why it is difficult for outsiders to understand a victim’s distress or why the stalker’s behavior is not harmless.(10)

For example, stalking could include:

  • Sending unwanted presents;

  • Posting private information or spreading rumors about the victim;

  • Moving the victim’s property in subtle ways. Like moving items around the victim’s house or car;

  • Hiding notes inside the pockets of stored clothing items or boxes that a victim might not find for months; and

  • Leaving an item that might seem mundane, but is closely associated with the stalker-- like the butt of a particular cigarette brand in a yard or near a window.(11)

This is why it is really important to keep an open mind if a potential victim is telling you that they think something is not right. Prolonged stalking can lead to anxiety, fear, depression, social dysfunction, and insecurity.(12)  Victims can become more introverted, aggressive, and even suicidal. They often miss school and/or work.(13) They also run the risk of being physically assaulted, experience sexual violence, or even death.(14)

Name It.

One big hindrance to addressing stalking is the low level at which it is reported.  Victims do not report stalking for a number of reasons. It could be because they want to minimize the behavior,(15) they’re afraid the stalker will hurt them or their loved ones,(16) or they could have already reported the stalking to someone but felt like they weren’t taken seriously or that it didn’t help to stop the stalking.(17) Whatever the reasons are, one of the most helpful things you can do to support a stalking victim is to believe them and support them in how they choose to respond to the stalking.

Stop It. 

We should all strive to recognize stalking when it’s happening and acknowledge that victims’ fears are justified. Being able to identify and report stalking starts with recognizing that stalking can happen to a victim of any age or background and may look differently than the common portrayals of stalking. When we recognize it, we can work together to stop it.

If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, reach out and tell someone, disengage with that stalker, and keep a record of stalking behaviors or unusual activity. In the District of Columbia, you can call 844-4HELPDC (844-443-5732) to be referred to organizations, like the Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), that can help with safety needs and other support services, regardless of your income. 

For more tips for supporting stalking victims, visit this guide from the Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center. 

 

Sources:

(1) The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), Know It, Name It, Stop It, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/know-it-name-it-stop-it/.


(2) U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Stalking, https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=973.  


(3) Office of Victims of Crime, Stalking, https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/ncvrw2018/info_flyers/fact_sheets/2018NCVRW_Stalking_508_QC_v2.pdf. 


 (4) Victim Connect Resource Center, Stalking, https://victimconnect.org/learn/types-of-crime/stalking/.


 (5) The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), Stalking Fact Sheet, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SPARC_StalkngFactSheet_2018_FINAL.pdf. 


 (6) See Catalano PhD, Shannon, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Stalking Victims in the United States - Revised, https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svus_rev.pdf (September 2012).


(7) See U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Stalking Victimization in the United States, https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2012/08/15/bjs-stalking-rpt.pdf (2019). 


(8) The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), Stalking Fact Sheet, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SPARC_StalkngFactSheet_2018_FINAL.pdf. 


(9) See Catalano PhD, Shannon, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Stalking Victims in the United States - Revised, https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svus_rev.pdf (September 2012).


(10) See The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), What is Stalking, Definition and FAQs, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/definition-faqs/#1537979698201-432a38b8-c8e5. 


(11) See Catalano PhD, Shannon, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Stalking Victims in the United States - Revised, https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svus_rev.pdf (September 2012).; The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), What is Stalking, Definition and FAQs, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/definition-faqs/#1537979698201-432a38b8-c8e5.


(12) Stalking Risk Profile. (2011). Impact of stalking on victims. Retrieved from https://www.stalkingriskprofile.com/victim-support/impact-of-stalking-on-victims.


(13) The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), Stalking Fact Sheet, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SPARC_StalkngFactSheet_2018_FINAL.pdf. 

(14) See The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence, Definition and FAQs, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/definition-faqs/#1537979698201-432a38b8-c8e5. 


(15) See The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), What is Stalking, Definition and FAQs, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/definition-faqs/#1537979698201-432a38b8-c8e5. 


(16) See The Stalking Prevention and Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence, Definition and FAQs, https://www.stalkingawareness.org/definition-faqs/#1537979698201-432a38b8-c8e5. 


(17) See Catalano PhD, Shannon, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Stalking Victims in the United States - Revised, https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svus_rev.pdf (September 2012).



Network for Victim Recovery of DC