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National Stalking Awareness Month

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

Do you know what constitutes stalking?  Stalking is a behavior in which an individual willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly engages in a knowing course of conduct directed at a specific person which reasonably and seriously alarms, torments, or terrorizes the person.  Stalking creates fear.

Many people do not realize the clear link between sexual assault and stalking.  The Stalking Resource Center has done research that clearly and methodically developed the link between the two crimes. They have found in their research and victim testimony the stalking behaviors utilized by offenders.  What has been found is that offenders routinely engage in following, surveillance, information gathering and voyeurism prior to a sexual assault. After an assault, the rapist frequently threatens the victim, attempts to frame the incident (e.g. thinks and talks about the incident as if it were consensual), and maintains social contact.

Thirty-one percent of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also sexually assaulted by that partner. The Stalking Resource Center has found that the typical offender/rapist, (stranger and non-stranger), premeditates and plans his attack and uses multiple strategies to make the victim vulnerable such as alcohol or increasing levels of violence. FBI research with incarcerated offenders revealed that the offenders picked victims based on observation (voyeurism) and stalked several women at a time waiting for an opportunity to commit a sexual assault.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics completed the Largest Study of Stalking Conducted to Date.  They recently released a supplemental report to the National Crime Victimization Survey focused on Stalking Victimization in the United States. This study confirms that stalking is pervasive, that women are at higher risk of being stalked, and there is a dangerous intersection between stalking and more violent crimes.

 What to Do if You are Stalked 

 

Get Help. Report to law enforcement and file criminal charges and/or obtain a protective order.  Request that law enforcement agencies log your complaint each time you call and Request a copy of your report.

Tell your stalker to stop. Have a registered letter to the stalker stating that he/she must stop the behavior immediately.

Tell someone. Do not attempt to deal with the situation alone. Tell a friend or family member about the stalking and document the stalker’s behavior. List date, time, place, what happened, any witnesses, and give a copy of the information to a friend or relative for safekeeping.

Develop a support system. Keep in touch with friends who are supportive and understanding. Give friends, co-workers, relatives, and neighbors a description of the stalker. Ask them to watch for the stalker, document everything they see, and give a written account to you.

Never underestimate the stalker’s potential for violence. Take all threats seriously. Not all threats are verbal; some nonverbal threats may be the sending of unwanted notes, cards, or gifts.

Do not attempt to communicate with the stalker at all. The stalker may misinterpret this communication as a form of encouragement.

 

Screen your calls: Have emergency numbers readily available. Remember to keep your cell phone charged and to have it with you at all times.

If you are being followed, go to a safe area, DO NOT DRIVE HOME. Drive to the nearest police station or a busy place. Use your horn to attract attention.

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Recent Rape Cases

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Last night we had two rape cases reported and two victims in the Emergency Room. Through the progress we have made with law enforcement and medical personnel, these victims can feel more comfortable reporting, getting evidence collected, and prosecuting. Those things are not enough. Victims need the support of a hotline, clothing to wear home from the hospital, crisis support from trained crisis advocates, and counseling.

It costs $376 to provide services to one victim for crisis emergency response. It costs $150 to provide legal advocacy for one victim. And it costs over $1200 to provide trauma counseling services and support for victims for 8 weeks.

As more victims report and seek services, we need to be able to have services available for them.

Donate today to help us serve victims of violence and consider adding to that donation a few dollars more to help us provide prevention so we may have fewer victims.

www.rcasa.org

Thank you for your support as we work together to end violence.
Carol Olson,
Executive Director

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January is National Stalking Awareness Month – Training at W&M

To register for the below conference, go to
http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=10212. Questions can be
directed to Shawna Gray sgray@visitthecenter.org.
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RECOGNIZING & RESPONDING TO STALKING
FREE – January 22, 2010 – 9AM-5PM
The College of William & Mary
Presented by the National Center for Victims of Crime: Stalking Resource
Center
Sponsored by the York County Violence Against Women Task Force & Sexual
Assault Services of the College of William & Mary

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime
that affects 3.4 million victims a year. Stalking is a crime in all 50
states and the District of Columbia, yet many victims and criminal
justice system professionals underestimate its seriousness and impact.
Stalking is difficult to recognize, investigate, and prosecute. Unlike
other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime but a
series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that
would cause that person fear. Communities that understand stalking,
however, can support victims and combat the crime.

This training will offer practical information about recognizing
stalking and understanding its impact on the victim. This training
offers two “tracks.” The first track is primarily aimed toward law
enforcement, prosecutors, and other professionals who work within the
criminal justice system. The second track is primarily aimed toward
community advocates, school personnel, and mental health counselors.
The training also includes a session on creating a coordinated community
response to stalking.

The training is located on the campus of the College of William & Mary
at the Sadler Center. This training is free. Registration includes a
parking pass, continental breakfast, and an afternoon snack. Lunch is
‘On Your Own.’ Parking is readily available at the W&M Hall Parking
lot, which is about a 3-5 minute walk from the Sadler Center. Anyone
who has accessibility needs can be accommodated in a closer lot, if
needed.

Pre-registration for this training is required.
To register, go to http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=10212,
click on the date of the training, and select ‘REGISTER.’ Directions
and maps will be emailed to registrants prior to the event, along with a
parking pass.

In-service credits for Law Enforcement have been requested.

Agenda

7:30-8:30AM Registration

7:30-8:30AM Continental Breakfast

8:45AM Welcome

9:00AM Stalking: Prevalence, Lethality, and Impact
Recent national data indicates that 3.4 million people are stalking in
one year in the United States; yet stalking is a crime that is often
misunderstood, minimized or missed entirely. This session will address
the dynamics of stalking, including stalking behaviors and the impact on
victims.

Participants will be able to:
1. Define stalking and list common stalking behaviors.
2. Give general statistics on the prevalence of stalking.
3. List potential harms victims can experience, including homicide, and
reasons all stalking cases should be taken seriously.

10:15AM Break

10:30AM Break-out Sessions
Breakout 1: Investigating/ Prosecuting Stalking
This session will address considerations for the investigation and
prosecution of stalking. Information relevant to first responders as
well as detectives will be covered and well as tips for prosecutors.

Participants will be able to:
1. Identify components of an effective investigation, including victim
interview, suspect interview, determining crime scene, and collection of
evidence.
2. Provide victims and service providers with information on documenting
stalking.
3. Identify necessary corroborating evidence for improved prosecution
of stalking cases.

Breakout 2: Teens and Stalking
This session will address issues unique to stalking among teens. We
will provide a review of recent research on the use of technology in
stalking and harassment against teens. The session will also include
discussion on other ways dating violence and stalking are affecting
teens in our country and an exploration of the social trend of
normalization of stalking in youth and teens.

Participants will be able to:
1. Identify stalking behaviors (not necessarily criminal) amongst youth
and teens and the different dynamics of the stalking of teens.
2. Understand the use of technology in teen dating relationships and how
technology can be misused to stalk and abuse teens.
3. Recognize the ‘parent/adult knowledge gap’ in the use of technology
and other teen stalking behaviors and discuss ways to close that
knowledge gap.

11:45 PM Lunch on Your Own

1:00PM – 2:15PM Break-out Sessions:
Breakout 1: Working with Stalking Victims
The session focuses on the impact of stalking on victims and how those
working with stalking victims can assist with safety, documentation,
advocacy, and support.

Participants will be able to:
1. Determine the different legal system responses available to stalking
victims (e.g., criminal – various charges, state statutes and civil
remedies – protective orders and civil tort claims).
2. Identify four main areas of need for stalking victims: safety,
advocacy, documentation and support.
3. Advise stalking victims to disengage from stalker and engage in risk
reduction behaviors.
4. Apply best practices of advocacy model to working with stalking
victims.
Promote use of logs and other documentation/evidence collection
techniques when working with stalking victims.

Breakout 2: The Use of Technology to Stalk
This session focuses on how stalkers have used technology such as
computers, video cameras, and global positioning systems to stalk.
Evidence collection and safety considerations will be discussed.
Participants will be able to:
1. Name several different types of technology and how it is used in
stalking, including how technology is used to advance other stalking
tactics.
2. Discuss how technology might impact their work and how to integrate
that knowledge into investigation, evidence collection, and safety
planning.
3. Articulate challenges posed by technology and needed system changes.
Identify areas where their stalking laws might be deficient in covering
technology.

2:15 PM – 2:30PM Break

2:30PM – 3:45PM Breakouts
Breakout 1: Threat Assessment/ Safety Planning
The session will provide simple tools that responders can use to assess
the threat posed by a stalker. Participants will learn how to identify
and respond to various risk behaviors and how to work with victims to
develop a safety plan.

Participants will be able to:
1. Define threat assessment (e.g. analysis of situation that may
demonstrate which individuals pose what risk at what times).
2. Identify elements of victim-centered threat assessment (based on
victim experience, level of fear, history of behaviors, etc.).
3. Determine most dangerous time for victims (separation, when PO
served, significant life event, increased contact with victim).
4. Practice safety planning with stalking victims.

Breakout 2: Stalking on Campus
Research indicates that stalking is all too prevalent on college
campuses. This workshop will explore the nature of stalking on campus,
including the intersection of stalking and sexual assault. We will also
discuss steps campuses can take to respond to stalking on campus,
including policy development, educational programming, and working with
victims.
Participants will be able to:
1. Discuss how stalking on campus differs from stalking in general.
2. Recognize the link between stalking and sexual assault on campus.
3. Identify resources for victims on campus and in the community.
4. Develop a framework for a campus response to stalking.

3:45PM – 4:00PM Break

4:00PM – 5:00PM Developing a Coordinated Community Response to Stalking
This session will examine the elements and benefits of a coordinated
community response (CCR) to stalking, including the steps necessary in
developing a CCR. Examples will be shared from communities who have
created a stalking CCR.

Participants will be able to:
1. Identify benefits of developing a CCR to stalking (why CCRs are
particularly beneficial to helping stalking victims).
2. Apply practices/systems of other CCRs, task forces, network groups to
development of stalking specific CCR.
3. Discuss elements of success in Links in Chain video example.
4. Develop initial design for local CCR to stalking.
5. Determine which members of local community would be assets in their
CCR.

5:00PM Dismissal

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