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Violence Against Women Prevention Program

Stalking

Violence Against Women Prevention Program



Stalking

Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

Source: Office on Violence Against Women

Forms

  • Repeated, unwanted, intrusive, and frightening communications
  • Repeatedly leaving or sending victim unwanted items, presents, or flowers
  • Following or laying in wait for the victim
  • Making direct or indirect threats to harm the victim and the people around them
  • Damaging or threatening to damage the victim’s property
  • Harassing the victim through the internet, cell phone, or other electronic device (i.e., cyberstalking)
  • Posting information or spreading rumors about the victim
  • Obtaining personal information to harass the victim

Criminal offense

Guam law states that a person is guilty of simple stalking if he or she willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly, follows or harasses another person or who makes a credible threat with intent to place that person or a member of his or her immediate family in fear of death or bodily injury. 

How do you know if you are being stalked?

A wide range of behaviors can be considered stalking if they are: repetitive, unwanted, and threatening or causing you fear. You are being stalked if someone repeatedly does any of the following, causing you to feel threatened or afraid:

  • makes unwanted contact through calls, texts, email, or social networking sites
  • shows up univited at your home, work, or classes
  • follows you or watches you in-person or online
  • sends unwanted gifts, cards, presents, or other items
  • makes verbal or physical threats against you, your loved ones, or your property
  • threatens to harm him or herself if you do not allow contact
  • posts information or spreads rumors about you on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.

Statistics on Stalking

Stalking Statistics in the U.S.

Both women and men can be victims of stalking, but women are at greater risk.

  • 3.4 million people are stalked in the U.S. each year
  • 75% of those knew their stalkers
  • 2% of women in the U.S. are stalked each year
  • .7% of mean in the U.S. are stalked each year

Stalking often leads to physical violence. many victims in this study reported that the stalker also perpetrated other crimes against them:

  • 21% were physically attacked by the stalker
  • 15% had a family member, friend, co-worker, or pet attacked by the stalker
  • 24.4% had property damaged by the stalker

Source: Baum, Catalano, Rand & Rose (2009), Stalking Victimization in the United States

Stalking Statistics in Colleges

In a recent study of women attending college in the United States, 13.1% had been stalked in the past year.

Most stalkers are not strangers. Approximately 4 out of 5 of these women knew their stalkers. Of the stalkers that were known:

  • 42.5% were boyfriends or ex-boyfriends
  • 24.5% were classmates
  • 10.3% were acquaintances
  • 5.6% were friends
  • 5.6% were co-workers

Stalking isn't just annoying. It can be dangerous.  Many of the stalking victims reported additional harm:

  • Almost 3 in 10 reported emotional or psychological injury
  • 15.3% reported that the stalker threatened or attempted to harm them
  • 10.3% reported that the stalker forced or attempted sexual contact

Source: Fisher, Cullen & Turner (2000), Sexual Victimization of College Women.