Stalking
Stalking is any behavior that may cause a person to fear for his/her safety due to a pattern of behavior that is unwanted and/or an emotional/mental disruption of his/her daily life.
Stalking may often seem subtle and harmless at first.
Stalking may include, but is not limited to:
- Following another person.
- Meeting at classes, places of residence or work.
- Sending and receiving multiple unwanted email or text messages, phone calls or letters.
- Sending, receiving and/or posting sexually explicit messages or pictures to someone’s online profile/social media.
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Fast Stats
- 7.5 million women and men are stalked each year in the United States.
- A stalker can be someone you know well or not at all. Most have dated or been involved with the people they stalk.
- Stalking is generally defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear and is a crime under the law in all 50 states, and U.S. territories.
It is not a joke. It is not romantic. It is not okay. It is a crime.
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What Stalkers Do
- Repeatedly call you, including hang-ups.
- Follow you and show up wherever you are.
- Send unwanted gifts, letters, texts or emails.
- Damage your home, car or other property.
- Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
- Use technology, like hidden cameras or GPS, to track where you go.
- Drive by or hang out at your home, school or work.
- Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends or pets.
- Find out about you by using public records, online search services, hiring investigators, going through your garbage or contacting friends, family, neighbors or co-workers.
- Other actions that control, track or frighten you.
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How to Help Someone Who Is Being Stalked
- Listen
- Show support
- Do not blame the victim for the crime
- Remember that every situation is different, and allow the person being stalked to make choices about how to handle the situation
- Find someone you can talk to about the situation
- Take steps to ensure your own safety
GET HELP/RESOURCES
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If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
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Trust your instincts. Don’t downplay the danger.
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Take threats seriously. Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency, or a domestic violence or rape crisis program. They can help you devise a safety plan, give you information about local laws, refer you to other services and weigh options such as seeking a protection order.
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Develop a safety plan, including things like changing your routine, arranging a place to stay, and having a friend or relative go places with you. Tell people how they can help you.
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Do not communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you.
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It is important to remember that you should keep evidence of the stalking regardless of whether or not the police were contacted.
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Remember, to be granted a restraining order, you must be able to provide documentation that stalking is occurring.
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Contact the police and find out about your state’s stalking laws.
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Consider getting a court order that tells the stalker to stay away from you.
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Tell family, friends, roommates and co-workers about the stalking.
