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 feel flattered by the attention. If the behavior escalates and becomes more overt, this can present a threat to the victim. A person can be charged with stalking for willfully and repeatedly:

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 (231-7806) offers counseling and safety planning, while the Office of Judicial Affairs (231-3790) can hold perpetrators responsible for violating the Virginia Tech University Policies for Student Life.
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.
Press charges. Consider calling the police or go to the magistrate's office immediately and request a warrant. 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.
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 # 2001-WA-BX-0001 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.