Stalking

1. Stalking

2. The term stalking makes one think of… • Phone calls • Sending letters or gifts • Waiting outside a person’s home or workplace

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

4. Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer November 6, 1967- July 18, 1989

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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)

13. Stalker Classification • ~50% ex-partner stalkers • Holmes (1993) • Celebrity • Lust • Hit • Love scorned • Political • Domestic

14. 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.

15. 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 Tom’s intentions. She didn’t think that anyone could possibly have as much banking to do as Tom seemed to have. • Stalking?

16. 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?

17. 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?

18. 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?

19. 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?

20. 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 don’t understand you…I am a really nice guy and would make you happy if you only let me. I only came here to apologize to you. Why won’t 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?

21. Characteristics of Victims(Sheridan, 2003) • 75% female • Usually 18-30 years • Single • Prior domestic violence • Highly educated in high level positions • Highly visible professions

22. Impact on Victims(Sheridan, 2003) • Financial losses • Social consequences • Psychological complaints

23. Encourage victim to… • Trust their own instincts • Create and maintain a support system • Document, document, document • Safety plan

24. Resources • www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=dash • www.humec.cornell.edu/stalking/index.htm • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/help/stalk.htm