Stalking

Stalking is a pattern of threats or harassment that is directed repeatedly toward a specific individual and is experienced as unwelcome, intrusive, or fear inducing. It can include physical appearances of the stalker and harassing behaviors such as sending unwanted letters, phone calls, messages, gifts, and unwanted instant messages/email correspondence.

Are you being stalked?

Stalking is difficult to identify at first. Initially a victim may not feel there is any cause for alarm and may simply be annoyed by the behavior. As the behavior continues, and often as it escalates and becomes more overt, the victim can begin to fear for her or his safety. A person can be charged with stalking for willfully and repeatedly:

• Following or appearing within the sight of another person without that person's permission.
• Confronting another individual in a public or private place.
• Appearing at the work place or residence of another.
• Contacting by phone, email, instant messenger, or phone.
• Vandalizing a person's property.

Anyone can be a victim of stalking. Although stalking is a gender-neutral crime, most (78 percent) stalking victims are female and most (87 percent) stalking perpetrators are male (Violence Against Women Survey, 1996). Most stalking cases involve people who know each other like another student, co-worker, ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, or a spouse.

What to do if you are being stalked:

• 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 the date, time, place, what happened, any witnesses, and what the stalker was doing, saying, and wearing.
• Alert appropriate people around you. Your neighbors, co-workers, and family members can help watch out for you. The Women's Center (540.231.7806) offers counseling and safety planning, while the Office of Judicial Affairs (540.231.3790) can hold perpetrators responsible for violating the Virginia Tech University Policies for Student Life. The Virginia Tech Police Department (540.231.6411) can help deal with the criminal aspect of stalking.
• Report the crime to the police. Request that law enforcement agencies log your complaint each time you call whether they respond or not. Request a copy of the report.
• Considter pressing charges and requesting a Stalking Protective Order. Consider calling the police or go to the magistrate's office immediately and request a warrant. At that time you can also request a stalking protective order. The stalker will likely be arrested, bonded and released. Ask that a term of the bond be no contact with you. Obtain copies of all documents and the name of the magistrate. The Women's Center at Virginia Tech or the Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley can help you with this process.
• Cut off all communication with the stalker. Screen your calls. Invest in a cellular phone or borrow an emergency cell phone from your campus or local police.
• Utilize escort services when on campus. The campus police will pick you up or drop you off anywhere on campus whenever you need it if you are concerned about your safety.

Sources: Guidelines for the Stalking Victim, George Mason University Sexual Assault Services. Stalking, It's a Crime, Women's Resource Center, Radford, Virginia. National Violence Against Women Survey, National Institute of Justice Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Grant statement: This project was supported by grant # 2005-WA-AX-0020 awarded by the Violence Against Women Office, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of View in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Last updated 03/29/2007