Stalking

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Stalking
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The term stalking makes one think of

• Phone calls
• Sending letters or gifts
• Waiting outside a persons home or workplace

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Star-stalking

• A term coined by U.S. journalists in the late
  1980s
• Margaret Ray
• Tina Ledbetter
• Edwin Carlson
• Robert Hoskins
• John Hinckley Jr.

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• Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer
• November 6, 1967- July 18, 1989

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Antistalking Legislation

• The California legislature passed the bill in
  September, 1990.
• In Canada, anti-stalking legislation, termed
  criminal harassment, was promulgated in 1993 as
  Section 264 of the Canadian Criminal Code
  (Douglas Dutton, 2001).
• US, Canada, Australia, UK, New Zealand, now being
  considered for enactment in the Netherlands
  (Purcell et al., 2004)

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Criminal Harassment - Intention

• Offender must possess either the intent to harass
  or cause mental or physical harm to the victim
• Or, rely upon a recklessness standard whereby the
  defendant should have known that their conduct
  would result in untoward effects such as
  harassment, apprehension or intimidation.

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• When many people try to break up with a boyfriend
  or girlfriend they have a hard time getting the
  other person to accept the breakup and leave them
  alone. The ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend may do
  things like call repeatedly or call late at
  night, leave notes at an apartment or dorm room,
  or send unwanted e-mails. Some will do these
  things because they hope that maintaining contact
  will help get the relationship back together
  others will be hoping that they can convince
  their former partner to start the relationship
  again others are expressing their anger and
  frustration. Sometimes the ex-boyfriend or
  ex-girlfriend is simply annoying, but other times
  can be frightening or dangerous.

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Criminal Harassment Response of Victim

• In Canada, the victim must suffer emotional
  distress or fear for their safety due to the
  actions of the stalker

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Criminal Harassment - of acts

• In Canada (and parts of Australia)
• Prohibited act may be performed on only one
  occasion.
• Sentencing 6 months to 5 years.

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Prevalence

• Approximately 9 people per 1000 (1)
• Based on incidents of criminal harassment
  reported to police in Canada in 1994-1995
• ?17 353

• In Canada, reported incidents of stalking have
  been on the rise since the 1990s
• E.g., 16 increase from 1999 to 2000
• E.g., 50 increase from 1996 to 2000
• (Stats Canada as cited in Wrightsman and Porter,
  2006)

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Characteristics of Stalkers

• Between 70 and 80 are male
• Compared to other criminals stalkers are
• Older (avg age 35-40)
• Caucasian
• Single, separated or divorced
• Unemployed

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Characteristics of Stalkers

• Between 70 and 80 are male
• Compared to other criminals stalkers are
• Older (avg age 35-40)
• Caucasian
• Single, separated or divorced
• Unemployed
• Findings are mixed re mental disorders
• Axis I (drug abuse, mood disorder and
  Schizophrenia)
• Axis II (personality disorders)

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Stalker Classification

• 50 ex-partner stalkers
• Holmes (1993)
• Celebrity
• Lust
• Hit
• Love scorned
• Political
• Domestic

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Sample Vignettes (Phillips et al., 2004)

• 1.Tom met Mary at a party that a mutual friend
  hosted. They talked for a while at the party
  before going their separate ways. Mary worked at
  the local bank as a teller. Mary noticed that Tom
  began coming into the bank to make transactions.

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Sample Vignettes (Phillips et al., 2004)

• 2.Usually he would wave at Mary if he saw her,
  and a few times, he waited specifically for Mary
  to help him with his transaction. After a few
  weeks of the same pattern, Mary was beginning to
  question Toms intentions. She didnt think that
  anyone could possibly have as much banking to do
  as Tom seemed to have.
• Stalking?

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Sample Vignettes (Phillips et al., 2004)

• 3.Within a few weeks, Tom started calling the
  bank to make sure Mary was working before he came
  in. Mary took a week off from work and went out
  of town. When she came back to work her manager
  was very angry with her. Some guy named Tom
  keeps calling at least 6 or 7 times a day to see
  where you are at. I told him not to call here
  anymore. The bank manager warned Mary that if
  this continued he would have to fire Mary.
  Stalking?

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Sample Vignettes (Phillips et al., 2004)

• 4. Mary, not sure of how to reach Tom, called
  their mutual friend. Mary was informed that Tom
  is very shy but found her very easy to talk to
  and would like to take her out on a date. Mary
  called Tom and thanked him for his interest in
  her. She then explained that she was not
  interested in dating anyone but would like to
  remain friends. Stalking?

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Sample Vignettes (Phillips et al., 2004)

• 5. Mary still saw Tom at the bank, but now she
  was seeing him when she went to the market and on
  the bus to and from work. When Tom would see
  Mary, he would wave or smile. Mary decided to
  tell Tom to stop following her. When she did, Tom
  told her that she was nuts. This is a small
  town. What market would you like me to shop in?
  Where do you think I should do my banking? Mary
  would still see Tom, but he would not acknowledge
  her. Stalking?

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Sample Vignettes (Phillips et al., 2004)

• 6. Then Mary came to work to find a teddy bear
  holding a red rose with a card signed Your
  special friend Tom Later that morning, Tom
  called her to see if she received the gift. Mary
  thanked him and reiterated that she could not
  receive phone calls. Later that day Tom called
  just to say hi and then called to find out if
  she would like to go to dinner. Mary turned Tom
  down and asked him to stop calling her. The next
  day Tom called Mary at the bank to apologize for
  his behaviour and promised never to call again.
  Stalking?

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Sample Vignettes (Phillips et al., 2004)

• 7. The following week when Mary was leaving work,
  Tom was waiting in the bank parking lot. Mary
  ignored Tom when he said hello to her and just
  walked to her car. Tom became very angry and
  began to yell at Mary, I dont understand youI
  am a really nice guy and would make you happy if
  you only let me. I only came here to apologize to
  you. Why wont you go out with me? Do you really
  think that you are so much better than me The
  next day Tom called Mary at the bank to
  apologize. Stalking?

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Characteristics of Victims (Sheridan, 2003)

• 75 female
• Usually 18-30 years
• Single
• Prior domestic violence
• Highly educated in high level positions
• Highly visible professions

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Impact on Victims (Sheridan, 2003)

• Financial losses
• Social consequences
• Psychological complaints

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Encourage victim to

• Trust their own instincts
• Create and maintain a support system
• Document, document, document
• Safety plan

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Resources

• www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbIDdash
• www.humec.cornell.edu/stalking/index.htm
• http//www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/stalk.htm