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Stalking is a crime that
encompasses a variety of behaviors that may occur on or off campus or in
cyberspace. Stalkers use different behaviors to establish and/or maintain contact
with victims, to intimidate, and ultimately to try to control the person who
is the target of their behavior. Stalkers may be current or former partners,
classmates, coworkers, friends, or strangers, and most victims report that
they know the stalker. Often, victims do not realize that what they are experiencing
is stalking. They may dismiss their fears as being "too paranoid" or perhaps "over-reactive," or
they may hear this from others. Stalking is a serious crime and it is becoming
more common. Studies show that 27% to 35 % of female students, and 14% to 18%
of male students report having been a victim of stalking. (CALCASA. 2003 Report:
Research on rape and violence, p. 48. CALCASA: Sacramento, CA.)
According to New Jersey law, a person
is guilty of stalking if s/he purposely and repeatedly (two or more times)
engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would
cause a reasonable person to fear bodily injury to her/himself or a member
of her/his immediately family or the fear of the death of her/himself or a
member of her/his immediate family. The term "course of conduct" means
repeatedly maintaining a visual or physical proximity to a person or
repeatedly conveying verbal or written threats or threats implied by
conduct or a combination thereof directed toward a person.
Stalking may include, but is not
limited to, the following types of behaviors:
- repeatedly visiting or "dropping by"
uninvited;
- sending anonymous letters or other
types of mailings such as e-mail;
- making persistent phone calls with
or without leaving a message;
- giving unwanted gifts;
- following the victim while walking,
driving or taking the campus bus, to class, or in other settings;
- watching and/or spying on the
victim;
- writing threatening comments or
graffiti where the victim will see it;
- showing up wherever the victim is,
tracking the victim's schedule.
If You Believe You Are Being
Stalked
If you believe you are being stalked,
or if you have some questions about behavior that is frightening even if
it has happened once, you have options. These options fall into two
primary categories, legal assistance and counseling/advocacy assistance.
Consider telling a friend, residence life staff, calling our department,
the Department of Sexual Assault Services and Crime Victim Assistance
(SAS/CVA), or calling the police. Stalking is a criminal offense. Help is
available, and talking with someone can assist you with choosing options
that are best for you.
Important factors to
remember:
- it is helpful to keep a journal of
the stalker's behaviors, including dates, times, and places of
incidences, and what occurred;
- it may be helpful to tell your
friends, roommates, employer, and anyone else with whom you spend time
as a safety precaution;
- if you live on-campus, it may be
helpful to tell residence life staff as a safety
precaution;
- it is helpful to keep evidence of
the stalker's behavior, such as gifts, letters, phone messages, etc.
Stalking victim kits are designed to assist with evidence collection,
and are available from SAS/CVA.
Click here
to access useful resources and contact
information.
Back to Dating Violence, Abuse,
and Stalking page
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