Stalking – Pure Terrorism
Take stalking seriously.
It’s not just an inconvenience or annoying!! It can get
you killed! If you are being stalked, you are
in serious danger.
Definition
of stalking:
“A course of conduct directed at a specific person that involves
repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication or
verbal, written or implied threats, or a combination of these that would
cause a reasonable person to fear, with ‘reasonable’ meaning
on two or more occasions. The penal code does not require stalkers to
make a credible threat of violence against victims but does require
that victims feel a high level of fear of bodily harm.
• 81% of women stalked by a
current or ex-intimate partner were physically assaulted.
• 31% were also sexually assaulted.
• Anyone can be a victim; anyone can be a stalker.
• The average stalking case lasts 1.8 years. (NIJ/CDC, Stalking
in America”, 1989)
• 90% of murder victims were stalked first.
Motivation
of stalkers:
They are insecure; they feel they have been injured, annihilated, betrayed.
Their overriding thought is “Nobody is going to control me.”
They want to prove “I’ll do whatever I want!” They disobey
restraining orders.
The
most dangerous stalkers:
• Don’t care if they are recognized or known
• Have public encounters or assaults
• Leave threatening phone message
• Send threatening, signed mail.
Psychology
of a stalker:
Suspect had a relationship with victim and cannot accept that it has
ended. This is the most common and the most dangerous. He or she is
obsessed with the victim; is possessive; wants revenge, re-attachment,
vindication. Needs to prove that he or she is right.
What stalking
victims should do:
• Trust your instincts.
• Disengage – do not talk or meet with the stalker ever; it
only encourages him or her.
• Keep accurate records of every incident: tape messages; keep
letters, cards, notes, objects sent or left, any photos sent.
Common Stalking
Behaviors:
• Harassing
• Annoying
• Threatening
• Assault
• Unwanted gifts
• Mail threats
• Violation of protection order
• Disabling vehicle
• Hurting victim’s pet
• Burglary
• Obtaining personal information about the victim
• Surveillance
• Photographing victim
• Arson
• Tapping phone
• False police reports
• Using the post office or department of motor vehicles to find
victim
• Kidnapping
• Sexual assault
• Threats to kill victim or her family
THREE
THINGS WILL GET A STALKING VICTIM KILLED:
DENIAL, DENIAL, DENIAL
Domestic
Violence
