STALKING INVESTIGATIONS


What is Stalking?

Stalking is an abnormal or long-term pattern of threat or harassment that:

• is directed repeatedly toward a specific individual
• is experienced as unwelcome or intrusive
• is reported to trigger fear or concern

Examples of stalking include: following, loitering nearby, maintaining surveillance, and sending unwanted gifts or messages. Stalking may escalate to physical assault, sexual assault, and/or even murder.

How is Stalking Proven?

• Intent of stalker: Stalker has the intent or the knowledge that his/her actions will instill fear of death or bodily injury to the victim or a member of the victim’s family or household. Threats can be explicit (e.g. stating that he is going to kill the victim) or implied (e.g. veiled threats, hurting the family pet). Threats have to be aimed at a specific person; they cannot be general threats. Threats may be conveyed by the stalker or by someone acting on behalf of the stalker.
  
• Conduct of stalker: Conduct has to occur on more than one occasion and be directed towards the victim and/or the victim’s family or household members. More than one police report is not required. The acts may include threatening contact by mail or by phone or damaging the victim’s property. Penalty: Class A misdemeanor - $4,000 and/or up to one year in jail unless there is a prior conviction for stalking, in which case the penalty is upgraded to a 3rd degree felony (2 to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000). In addition the releasing office is required to make a “reasonable effort” (one attempt) to get in touch with the victim when the stalker is being released or escapes from prison It is the victim’s responsibility to notify law enforcement officials of a change of the victims’ phone number or address.

In a recent study by the National Institute of Justice found that stalking was far more prevalent than anyone had imagined: 8% of American women and 2% of American men will be stalked in their lifetimes. That’s 1.4 million American stalking victims every year. The majority of stalkers have been in relationships with their victims, but a significant percentage either never met their victims or were just acquaintances – neighbors, fiends or co-workers.

This can be a serious problem for the victim but be assured we are here to help keep you safe. You can call us at a moments notice and we will dispatch a company representative to your location and give you a threat assessment. We are available at a moments notice and are highly trained in protection, counter surveillance, executive protection. In many cases a stalker may be an ex-boyfriend, estranged husband or wife, or an unknown person causing undue stress in your life.

Below are some helpful web sites with information and remember you are a phone call away from advice and safety.

www.stakinghelp.org
www.antistalking.com