Stalking and Harassment

  1. Overview
  2. Stalking and Harassment

What are Stalking and Harassment?

In most states, stalking is generally defined as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person fear. (Stalking Resource Center). This defin ...

What Stalking Victims Can Do

This section is excerpted from the Stalking Resource Center, Help for Victims (2012). Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. No two stalking situations are alike. No guarante ...

Who are the Victims?

Anyone can be stalked. However, certain factors—for example, gender and age—appear to increase the risk. Note: In the remaining sections, the term ‘stalking&rsquo ...

Impact on Victims

Victims react differently if fear is a key element in the stalking and harassment. The tactics that stalkers use can create enough distress that their victims fear for their own li ...

Is Stalking Dangerous?

Stalking behaviors should always be taken seriously. Stalking can be violent and escalate over time (Stalking Resource Center). It most likely will not stop if it is just ignored. ...

What Behaviors Constitute the Crimes of Stalking and Harassment?

Unlike other crimes such as speeding and murder, there is no "master list" of behaviors that constitute harassment (i.e., stalking and harassment). Below is a list of behaviors ...

Tactics Used

The West Virginia specific stalking data below (Smith et al., 2017) provides some insight regarding the types of stalking tactics experienced by victims. Tactics Experienced by ...

Use of Technology to Stalk

Technology has provided stalkers with additional tools to electronically stalk and harass their victims and added new dimensions to the impact of this crime on victims. This use of ...

Relationship between Victims and Stalkers

Stalking victims are typically stalked by someone they know, most commonly current or former intimate partners (Baum et al., 2009; Catalano, 2012; Fisher, Cullen & Turner, 2000 ...

Safety Planning

The following information comes from the Stalking Resource Center (2009). For additional information visit SPARC's Safety Strategies. How Can a Safety Plan Help? While stalkin ...

Brochures

Understanding Stalking SPARC PDF Also see: Internet Dangers PDF Teens, Tweens & Technology PDF Teens, Tweens & Technology: Social Media PDF What Every Parent Should Kn ...

Resources

Stalking Fact Sheet (Stalking Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center, 2018) Response Tips for Victim Advocates (SPARC, 2018) Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence Fact Shee ...