January is Stalking Awareness Month

[brittany.aae]

The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) reports that about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have been stalked at some point in their lives. According to the NCADV, 76% of women murdered by an intimate partner were stalked first, while 85% of women who survived murder attempts were stalked. 54% of femicide victims reported stalking to the police before they were killed by their stalkers. 1 in 7 stalking victims has been forced to move because of their victimization.

86% of victims surveyed reported their personalities had changed as a result of being stalked. 37% of stalking victims fulfill the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, and an additional 18% fulfilled all but one diagnostic criteria.1 in 8 stalking victims has reported losing work because of the stalking. More than half of these victims reported losing 5 or more work days. 1 in 4 stalking victims contemplated suicide. Stalking is a serious crime that is predictive of more violent crimes to come and extreme outcomes for victims.

For more information visit SPARC's website.

[brittany.aae]

Based on research done by the American Journal of Psychology, these are the typical psychological profiles of a stalker:

REJECTED STALKER
Some stalkers have been rejected by a person they wanted a relationship with, or have just experienced a breakup. The stalker may be looking for a way to salvage their relationship, or want to remain as close to the victim as much as possible. In other instances, they’re angry and want revenge for being rejected.

PREDATORY STALKER
Predators are often sexually obsessed or have deviant sexual fantasies. Typically male, their victims are usually women who are strangers, but in whom the stalker has a sexual interest. It can start with voyeurism, which becomes a precursor to sexual assault. 

INCOMPETENT SUITOR
These kinds of stalkers are typically incompetent at relationships, lonely, and target strangers or casual acquaintances. They assume they can convince the object of their desire to start dating them. They can often seem blind or indifferent to the suffering they inflict on the victim. Many of these stalkers have poor social skills.

RESENTFUL STALKER
Some people become stalkers because they feel like they’ve been mistreated in some way. These stalkers often have some form of mental illness, experience feelings of paranoia or persecution, and can be self-righteous and self-pitying. Stalking the victim can be a way to get revenge for their perceived mistreatment. They feel like they have a certain amount of power over the victim as they stalk them.

INTIMACY-SEEKER
Often mentally ill, the intimacy-seeking stalker believes the victim will love or learn to love them, and they may have a delusional belief that the victim already does love them. In many instances, they focus on prominent or celebrity figures.

[emily_sisson]

Thanks for this information.

[brittany.aae]

Thank you, Emily.

According to the CDC, stalking is a public health problem that affects millions of people in the United States. Stalking involves a perpetrator’s use of a pattern of harassing or threatening tactics that are both unwanted and cause fear or safety concerns in a victim.

Stalking is legally defined by the federal government as a course of conduct directed at an individual that “places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to that person; an immediate family [member] … of that person; or a spouse or intimate partner of that person; or causes, attempts to cause, or would reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress …” to that person, a family member or an intimate partner.

Stalking tactics can include:

Unwanted following and watching of the victim
Unwanted approaching or showing up in places, such as the victim’s home, workplace, or school
Unwanted use of global positioning system (GPS) technology to monitor or track the victim’s location
Leaving strange or potentially threatening items for the victim to find
Sneaking into the victim’s home or car and doing things to scare the victim or let the victim know the perpetrator had been there
Use of technology (e.g., hidden camera, recorder, computer software) to spy on the victim from a distance
Unwanted phone calls, including hang-ups and voice messages
Unwanted texts, emails, social media, or photo messages
Unwanted cards, letters, flowers, or presents

[brittany.aae]

Explicit and detailed threats increase the risk of violence and harm. Stalking victims are often threatened both during and after the relationship.

76% of women who experienced threats with a firearm from an abusive partner were also stalked by that partner.
82% of IP stalking victims with gun-owning abusers were afraid the stalker would hurt or threaten them with a gun, compared to 24% of victims with an abuser who did not own a gun.
IP stalking victims with gun-owning abusers experienced more threats in the course of stalking than those with stalkers who did not own guns:
- 71% vs. 49% explicit threats of harm
- 34% vs. 19% detailed threats about how the stalker planned to harm them
IP stalking victims with gun-owning abusers were more likely to experience firearm threats than those with abusers who did not own guns:
- 3 times as likely to experience threats to have others shoot the victim
- 4 times as likely to experience threats to pets or other animals
- 6 times as likely to experience threats to harm or shoot the victim

[funhog.fundogs]

Keep it coming. This is great information. I can't imagine the horror of being stalked.

[Aleeta]

Thanks for posting this. It is very important information. Perhaps you could post local resources here as well as suggesting accessing SPARC's website.

[brittany.aae]

On Friday 19 January 2024, the Washington State Legislature approved a bi-partisan resolution officially recognizing January as Stalking Awareness Month. On the same day, the Town of Winthrop adopted similar language to, likewise, recognize January as Stalking Awareness Month in a Proclamation, filed at Town Hall and available for review.

Let's turn the Methow into a place where the crime of stalking is recognized, its victims honored, and its perpetrators held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Here is the text of HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2024-4659
By Representatives Kretz and Davis

WHEREAS, January 18th has been specified as a National Day of Action for Stalking Awareness and January has been recognized as National Stalking Awareness Month by the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center, established by a grant funded by the United States Department of Justice; and

WHEREAS, This body reaffirms the inherent right of every human being to live in peace without the fear of being stalked, harassed, and violated; and

WHEREAS, We recognize stalking as a deeply traumatic victimization in its own right and often intersects with sexual violence, physical violence, and even homicide; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, one in three women and one in six men have been stalked at some point in their lives; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 76 percent of women murdered by an intimate partner were stalked first, while 85 percent of women who survived murder attempts were stalked; and

WHEREAS, 54 percent of femicide victims reported stalking to the police before they were killed by their stalkers and one in seven stalking victims has been forced to move because of their victimization; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Justice report "Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime," victims often face nonphysical challenges, such as the possibility of trauma and posttraumatic stress or socio-emotional problems, affecting their ability to trust or function day to day; and

WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stalking is a public health problem that affects millions of people in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The impact of all crime often affects more than just the direct victims, devastating thousands of these victims' families and friends across Washington as well; and

WHEREAS, The Washington State House of Representatives recognize the importance of honoring victims regardless of the manner, size, or type of crime committed against them because of the adversity they face and the resilience they exemplify;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the plight of those affected and victimized by the crime of stalking and further resolve to stand with the victims who have been brave enough to tell their stories, those who are no longer alive to do so, and those who might gain the courage to do so in the future.

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
Resolution 4659 adopted by the House of Representatives
January 19, 2024

[brittany.aae]

Stalking awareness is trending––though notably the Methow Valley News has yet to print a peep about it.

Senator Short just received unanimous Senate approval for Resolution 8660 officially recognizing the plight of victims of the crime of stalking. In her comments on the Senate floor she stated:

"Stalking is intentional, it is malicious, psychologically abusive. It is done with the intent to belittle an individual, to intimidate, to exert power, to coerce and control, to punish and to terrorize. Victims of stalking feel alone, invisible to a system that often revictimizes them as if somehow they deserved this attention.

Overcoming the psychological trauma and the legal hurdles are daunting. If you live in a district like ours in a remote area, those difficulties are tremendously magnified. This is about standing up and saying that stalking is not acceptable, that it is not to be tolerated, that it should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I am excited to introduce this legislation and that as we move forward in our work, that the rights of victims are recognized."

Learn more and watch her live testimony on the Washington State Legislature webpage.

[brittany.aae]

RCW 7.105.450 (2) states:

A law enforcement officer shall arrest without a warrant and take into custody a person whom the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe has violated a domestic violence protection order, a sexual assault protection order, a stalking protection order, or a vulnerable adult protection order

SHALL arrest compels an officer to enforce the protective order violation without discretion if it is more than 50% likely that the violation occurred.

Has a law enforcement officer questioned the validity of your protective order, questioned your credibility as a victim, told you you ought to "feel flattered" by being stalked, told you to "wait until he finds another victim", or otherwise blamed you when your stalker resisted arrest? Join other local complainants by submitting a confidential report to the Criminal Justice Training Commission. Their investigators will treat your concerns with dignity and seriousness.

Don't wait to be physically assaulted, raped, or murdered. Stalking is a serious crime with stringent legislation dictating how law enforcement must deal with incursions on your safety.

The CJTC, our State Representatives, our State Senator, our Congressman, and the Governor all have their eyes on the fragile state of democracy in our county.