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Stalking Awareness

OPVS Bulletin - Stalking Awareness

The telephone rings again, and again; I'm in my office concentrating on my cases at the Youth Correctional Reception Center. Do I answer or should I let my voicemail pick it up? I think of my next move. My heart is pounding and I begin to feel anxious, scared, and angry. I pick up the phone, hoping it is a parent of one of my assigned offenders. Unfortunately, it is HIM again! I note the time of the call and begin to listen to the obscene statements in order to document the conversation. After a few seconds, I hang up the receiver feeling angry, scared, vulnerable.

I can't work. I can't concentrate. I look outside my office window thinking he's out there, somewhere. The phone rings again. This time I let the voicemail pick it up. A couple of minutes pass. The phone rings again. The calls keep coming every day. When I arrive in the mornings and return from my weekends, my voicemail has 10-20 messages from him. What does he want from me? At times he is crude and threatening; oddly enough, at other times his language is appropriate. His behavior is not.

As I experience these harassing calls, I begin to question myself, thinking I angered someone, placing blame on myself. I don't know who this person could be. Maybe it is someone I know, a past relationship, co-worker, or even an offender I tried to help.

After two months of investigation, it is finally over. With the support of my supervisors, administrator, and the California Highway Patrol, the suspect is captured. To my astonishment and relief, the suspect is a Youth Authority parolee who paroled from the very institution where I worked. To think he stalked me every day on my job without my knowledge. I am now a victim of one of our offenders; the very population I chose to work with as a career.

As I write this Bulletin, I am wondering where he is. The offender served ten days in county jail for this offense, and his parole was revoked. I was happy he was returned to custody but was dissatisfied with the disposition. He has since used all his available confinement time and is possibly victimizing someone again.

Does this sound familiar to you? Maybe a friend or family member has had this experience. Perhaps you have, in the workplace or at home. It is not rare or unusual. Stalking touches all of us. Whether in our personal lives, casual acquaintances or work relationships, we are all potential victims of stalking.

We should ask ourselves:

  • What is stalking?
  • What are the warning signs and indicators of potential trouble?
  • Who are the victims?
  • Who are the stalkers?
  • How can we protect ourselves? And, are there some safety measures?

The following information will describe the dynamics of stalking as well as provide you with practical information on warning signs, and ways victims or potential victims can protect themselves. It will provide resources available in California.

It is hoped that this information will be used personally, in training sessions for supervisors, and in the development of staff safety policies.

Finally, it will empower you to:

"Take Back Control of Your LIFE!"

FACTS

  • As many as 200,000 Americans are currently being stalked.
  • 1 in 20 women will become targets of stalking at least once during their lifetimes.
  • Of all stalking victims, 51% are ordinary citizens, 13% are former employers of stalkers, 17% are highly recognizable celebrities, and 32% are lesser known entertainment figures.
  • Half of all women killed in the United States are wives or lovers of the killer; as many as 90% are stalked first.
  • 75% - 80% of all stalking cases involve men stalking women.
  • Stalking first received widespread public concern in 1980 with the murder of John Lennon, and again in 1981, with John Hinkley Jr.'s assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. It was not until the 1989 death of Rebecca Schaeffer, a rising young actress, who was killed by an obsessed fan who had stalked her for 2 years, that laws were initiated. As a result, California enacted the first state anti-stalking legislation in 1990. Since then, 48 other states and the District of Columbia have enacted anti-stalking laws.
  • Stalking is not a new phenomenon. It is as old as the history of human relationships. What is new is that it was never labeled as a separate and distinct class of deviant behavior. Stalking has often been referred to as harassment, annoyance, and in some cases, domestic violence. Hardly a week goes by without a stalking story in the media. Ordinary people are being stalked by ex-boyfriends, or ex-girlfriends, co-workers, or even strangers.

WHAT IS STALKING?

California Penal Code Section 646.9 describes a stalker as, "Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family, . . ."

Simply speaking, stalking involves one person's obsessive behavior toward another person, causing that victim to fear for his/her safety. The stalker usually begins his stalking behavior with annoying, threatening, or obscene telephone calls or written communications. The stalker's actions, however, can escalate quickly and without provocation. The stalker may ultimately follow the victim of his obsession, often staking out the victim's home and/or workplace.

TYPES OF STALKING

Stalking is composed of three defining elements: the stalker's relationship with the victim, the stalker's motive in pursuing the victim, and the stalker's behavior. The stalker's relationship with their victim provides a useful basis for defining and classifying the various types of stalking. Forensic psychologists have identified three types of stalking: erotomania, love obsessional, and simple obsessional.

Erotomania
The erotomanic stalker, usually female, has the delusional belief that they are passionately loved by another. They go to great lengths to contact the person of their delusion, usually a person of higher socio-economic class and status, or an unattainable public figure. These stalkers are often described as celebrity stalkers or obsessed fans.

Love Obsessional
This stalker is a stranger to the victim. They develop a love obsession or fixation on another person with whom they have no personal relationship. The stalker mounts a campaign of harassment to make the victim aware of their existence. The love obsessional stalker not only attempts to live out their fantasies, but expects their victims to play their assigned roles. They believe they can make their object of affection love them back.

Simple Obsessional
Virtually all domestic violence cases involving stalking fall under this category. The victim can be an ex-spouse, ex-lover, former boss, or co-worker. In each of these cases, obsessional activities begin after the relationship has gone sour or the stalker perceives mistreatment by the victim. The stalker campaigns to rectify the relationship or seeks some type of retribution.

WARNING SIGNS/INDICATORS

Warning signs of DANGER:

  • Verbal threats to hurt or kill someone.
  • Paranoia.
  • Irrational violent statements or associations.
  • Romantic obsession: persistent calls, letters, gifts.
  • Weapons: possession, proficiency, obsession.
  • History of violence.
  • Significant personal/family/financial stressors.
  • Strong sense of entitlement to job condition.
  • Persistent physical actions or boundary crossing.
  • Escalation of any of the above behaviors.

Indicators of Potential TROUBLE:

  • "My former spouse keeps calling me, cursing, and hanging up."
  • "Co-workers report that Jones seems obsessed with getting even with Rogers."
  • "Smith is talking about blowing away the Governor. I think he has a gun. He has just been turned down on the appeal of his case for workers compensation."
  • "I know I only met him once, but I know that he loves me; once his wife is out of the way, we can be together always."
  • "She made me look bad in front of people. . . I'll show her."

WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?

Anyone can become the target of stalking, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or geographical location. However, statistics indicate women are most likely to become victims of stalking. The stalker's actions not only affect the victim. Family, friends, and co-workers are also impacted.

After the experience of being stalked for months and even years, victims share a number of traits and lifestyle changes resulting from their victimization. It is unfortunate, but the victim's behavior has to change, since the stalker's won't. They will often:

  • Blame themselves for the stalking.
  • Feel paranoid, cautious, and frightened.
  • Move, quit their job, change their names, and go underground.
  • Change their appearance in the hope their stalker will not recognize them.
  • Be less trusting of others, especially of men.
  • Be suspicious of others' motives.
  • Live a lonely and isolated life.

WHO ARE THE STALKERS?

Stalking is a gender-neutral crime, with both male and female perpetrators. However, most stalkers are men. Statistics indicate that 75-80% of all stalking cases involve men stalking women. Most tend to fall into the young to middle-age categories and, like victims, come from every walk of life. Virtually anyone can be a stalker, just as anyone can become a stalking victim.

Stalkers do not seem to fit a general personality profile. Although their behaviors vary widely, stalkers often share many characteristics and motivations, including some of the following:

  • Desire for power and control.
  • Obsessive, bizarre delusions, jealousy, anger, and revenge.
  • Seek to win or maintain the affection of the victim.
  • Either intense attraction to the victim or extreme hatred.
  • Erratic employment.
  • Exhibit low self-esteem.
  • Socially maladjusted.
  • Emotionally immature.
  • Unable to succeed in relationships.
  • Have experienced or witnessed violence in their family of origin.
  • Abuse alcohol and/or other drugs.
  • Has a criminal record.
  • Has a mental illness.
  • Mirror behavior patterns common in domestic violence cases.

TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF

As soon as you see someone is being overly persistent, you need to take the matter seriously. Whether you are dealing with a former lover, a colleague, or a stranger, you need to play it safe and protect yourself, your family, your home, and your work- place. The following information is not intended to be a set of strict guidelines for stalking victims, but rather practical information to assist you. Implementing these strategies will reduce your odds of physical or emotional harm from your stalker. If you are being stalked you should:

  • Do your best to safely avoid all contact with the stalker.
  • Inform family, friends, supervisors, and co-workers of what is going on about the stalking.
  • Report the stalking to the police in your area and follow their advice.
  • Keep an accurate journal or log of all incidents connected to the stalking.
  • Keep all evidence, i.e., letters, packages, taped telephone messages, etc. received from the stalker.

 

Victims in Imminent DANGER:
The primary goal of a victim in imminent danger should be to locate a safe place for her/himself. Safety for stalking victims can often be found in the following places:

  • Police Stations.
  • Residences of family/friends (location unknown to perpetrators).
  • Domestic violence shelters or local churches.
  • Public areas (stalkers may be less inclined toward violence or creating a disturbance).
  • If departure from the current location is not possible, call local law enforcement at 911.

Upon reaching safety, a victim may want to communicate with law enforcement, victims services, mental health professionals, and/or social services, in order to receive additional assistance and referrals.

 

Victims in Danger, BUT NOT IMMEDIATELY AT RISK:
While the victim may not be in immediate danger, he/she needs to assess the probability of impending danger. If you determine you are at risk, in a potentially harmful or violent situation, the following options may be considered:

  • Obtain a Restraining/Protective/Stay-Away Order.
  • Document actions of the perpetrator and suspicious activities.
  • Have quick access to critical telephone numbers, including a safe place to go.
  • Accessible reserve of clothes, money, important documents, extra set of keys, and a full tank of gas.

SUGGESTED SAFETY MEASURES

Residential Security

  • Be alert to any suspicious persons.
  • Positively identify callers before opening doors.
  • Install a porch light at a height that will discourage removal.
  • Keep garage doors locked at all times.
  • Keep fuse box locked. Have battery lanterns inside residence.
  • Inform trusted neighbors of anticipated absences and arrange for them to pick up mail and newspapers.

Office Security

  • Central reception should handle visitors and packages.
  • Have secretary or co-worker screen calls if necessary.
  • Be aware of anyone possibly following you to/from work.
  • Inform co-workers, supervisors, and on-site security of your situation.
  • Park in secured area if possible.

Vehicle Security

  • Park vehicles in well-lighted areas.
  • Visually check front and rear passenger seats before entering vehicle.
  • Keep doors locked while vehicle is in use.
  • Use a different schedule or route of travel each day.
  • Be alert to vehicles that appear to be following you.

REMEMBER...

It is important for stalking victims to recognize that their victimization is NOT their fault. Stalking is a crime that can touch us all, regardless of who we are.

The information cited in this bulletin came from national stalking and domestic violence studies.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Prevention and Victims Services (916) 262-1392.

RESOURCES

Office of Prevention and Victims Services
(916) 262-1392

Labor Relations/Employee Assistance/Safety Office
(916) 262-1447

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
1-800-632-7422

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE

Sacramento Survivors of Stalking
(916) 498-8758

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Resource Center
1-800-627-6872
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/

California Alliance Against Domestic Violence
(909) 623-4364
(Central/Northern California)

Local Police and Sheriff's Departments

Local Victim/Witness Assistance programs can be contacted through county District Attorneys Offices

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Ford, Roayl (March 28, 1995)
"Fending Off a Stalker"
The Boston Globe, p 1.

Gross, Linden, (1994)
To Have or To Harm
New York: Warner Books.

National Victim Center, (1995)
"Stalking: Questions and Answers"
INFOLINK, No. 43. Arlington, VA.

National Victim Center, (1995)
"Helpful Guide for Stalking Victims"
INFOLINK, No. 44. Arlington, VA.

Schaum, Melita and Karen Parrish, (1995)
Stalked: Breaking the Silence on the Crime of Stalking in America
New York: Warner Books.

Serant, Claire (October 1993)
"Stalked: Any Woman Can Become a Victim of This Heinous Crime"
Essense.

Sonk, Ph.D., Daniel & Durphy, M.D., Michael, (1989)
Learning to Live Without Violence: A Handbook for Men
California: Volcano Press.

Strikis, Silvija, (1993)
"Stopping Stalking"
Georgetown Law Journal, 81(1).

Office of Prevention and Victim Services Information